The author said one of her children (not pictured) was excited to be invited to a sleepover, but she didn't let her go.
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When my youngest child was 6, a new neighbor and her daughter came over to play. The mom enthusiastically offered to "return the favor" by hosting my daughter at her home for a sleepover. I knew this child had multiple older siblings, some of whom spent weeks going back and forth between their divorced parents' homes.When the pair left, my daughter looked at me and exclaimed excitedly that she was going to attend her first sleepover, just like she'd seen on some of her favorite shows and read about in some graphic novels.I felt a tinge of hesitation before letting her down gently. My heart was screaming, "Absolutely not!" However, my words were empathetic:"That sounds like so much fun." I followed with, "We don't allow sleepovers."Years later, I still have the same stance for my daughter, who is now 9 years old, and her older siblings.I'm holding strong to this ruleOver the years, my kids have been invited to a handful of sleepovers, and every time, we have declined the invitations. Some of my kids have protested, frustrated by our rule, claiming we are too strict. They say nothing bad will happen and that it'll be fine for them to be away for one night. Other kids in our family have sighed with relief, not enjoying being away from home and the comfort of their own beds.
