When I was 11 years old, Kim Snelling and I played Truth or Dare during a sleepover. I remember three things about that night. First, I ate dog food. The wet kind. Second, Kim ran down our small street buck naked singing Tough Titties. (Do you know that song, or did we make it up?) Third, by 2 a.m., my mom came down the stairs and yelled, “Shut up and go to bed, or I’m getting out the fly swatter.”
We played Ouija Board after that. Quietly.
Now my 6-year-old twins are asking to have a sleepover with a neighbor friend. Sometimes the mom brings up the idea when we’re all at the pool. At those moments, I urgently have to pee or put on deodorant. When I return, I change the subject to 50 Shades of Gray or the weather.
I avoid the answer because it will be no. I say they can’t have sleepovers until they’re old enough to watch The Saw and not cry about it. But I’m in the minority. Every other mom I know has done or is doing sleepovers with their same-age kids. I’ve heard over nights are–get this–fun. Are they? Really?
What do you say? What’s the right age for your kid to spend the night with her friends? (I’m not talking about Grandma here.) Take our poll on the next page. Tell us your sleepover rules in the comments. How well do you have to know the parents first? Do you worry about hormonal older siblings looking at your kid funny? Do you mind the part about not sleeping?
My main problem is that I believe in karma. When it comes to sleepovers, I’m very afraid I deserve what’s coming.
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