The older you get, the few(er) slumber parties there are, and I hate that. I liked slumber parties. What happened to them? ~ Drew Barrymore
My oldest daughter is a tween. Most of the time we enjoy this. She is at a delightful point in her life when she is really beginning to become her own person. We enjoy her personality, her spunk, her initiative. We love seeing her embrace life, learning, and friendships. She is such a wonderful young lady (at least, most of the time!) We have watched her go through many “rites of passage” as she has matured….. and now, this weekend, we embark on a first with her – the first slumber party – at – our – home.
Yes, we have finally succumbed to the years of requests – we have been beaten and broken down – we gave in – we said “yes”. As I sit and write there is a group of girls on our living room floor, watching television when they should probably be contemplating sleep…. which brings me to an important point/ question.
Why on earth are slumber parties called “slumber parties”??? Shouldn’t they be called “awake parties”??? It would seem that this would be a far more accurate descriptor of what occurs during the party. The girls stay awake all night talking, giggling, and often making the poor parental figures miserable. (I am hoping my ear plugs work tonight.)
As much as I hate to miss my sleep, I certainly see the value of these nights of friendship and fun. I remember many years with lots of slumber parties, they were such a part of my own growing up experience – how can I deny this to my girls? I am guessing my daughter may be grumpy in the morning, but those grumps will also come with memories of giggling with her best friends all night.
I am not going to force them to sleep – staying up is part of the fun….. before I went to bed I gave them a speech…. “I get grumpy if I do not sleep. I want to sleep. If you stay quiet enough that I cannot hear you and I can sleep then I do not care if you stay up until 4:00 a.m. In fact, I do not care if you stay up all night. If you wake me up, then I become really grumpy and I will make you go to sleep immediately.” So far so good, but the night is young!
Today, 110 days ’til 40, I remember slumber parties with fondness and I hope my girls create similar memories for themselves.
~400daystil40
Fortuitous Forty!!! 
sharonhughson
November 3, 2012 at 01:38
I have no idea why they’re called slumber parties since usually sleep is a last resort. I only have two sons so they didn’t have these. When they were younger, they asked, “Can my friends sleep over?” Then it became, “Can they spend the night?” I once referred to it as a slumber party and my younger son was deeply offended. “Girls have slumber parties, not boys!”
400daystil40
November 3, 2012 at 21:50
Yes, they really should be named something else!!!
ramblingwithramey
November 3, 2012 at 01:53
Slumber parties are truly a rite of passage that shouldn’t be missed! These days I go to quilting retreats where we do much of the same laughing,eating, and sharing–along with stitching on projects!
400daystil40
November 3, 2012 at 21:50
Yes definitely! The quilting retreats sound amazing! i would love that!
anotherthousandwords
November 3, 2012 at 01:55
Still remember my first slumber party at 133, 400…there were five of us…not much TV, but a lot of fun and games…we were all ‘theatricals’ to a great extent, and we DID stay awake until dawn!
400daystil40
November 3, 2012 at 21:50
Wow – what a great memory for you!
anotherthousandwords
November 3, 2012 at 01:56
Sorry…should read ’13’!
walkwiththerabbi
November 3, 2012 at 03:23
If I had a slumber party in this season of my life, slumber would be an apt term in the case of me and my wife – actually “inert party” would be better. Man – while on the topic of yesteryear – I miss drive-in movies. You??? Hugs from here and make it a great weekend.
400daystil40
November 3, 2012 at 21:49
Yes, this time of lie I would want a party with actual slumber!!!!
dogdaz
November 3, 2012 at 03:51
Sometimes I go to my sister’s and we still have sleep overs. Don’t lose that! I’m with you.
400daystil40
November 3, 2012 at 21:49
How fun!
buckwheatsrisk
November 3, 2012 at 06:46
have a good sleep! 😉
400daystil40
November 3, 2012 at 21:49
hehehe – maybe tonight!
buckwheatsrisk
November 3, 2012 at 23:21
so does that mean you didn’t last night?? lol
400daystil40
November 4, 2012 at 17:42
not so much… 🙂
artistspromenade
November 3, 2012 at 13:58
I always loved a great slumber party with my girlfriends too. Staying up as long as we could and eating way more candy than we should, well it makes memories and friends for life.
What a great tradition to pass on. I did it with tween boys and the party was almost the same except for the constant sports talk and the intermittent sounds of thumping as they threw a ball around the room which was always followed by a hush as they awaited the dreaded response, “No throwing a ball in the house, guys.” then laughter, quiet, a steady rising hum of chatter, and muffled thumping! Gotta love your childhood.
400daystil40
November 3, 2012 at 21:49
Yes, these are very important childhood milestones! 🙂
brenaturally
November 3, 2012 at 15:48
Oh yes, we have the same even with our boys. They should definitely be renamed to wide-awake at 3a.m. parties! But I agree that it is a rite of passage to of event in a child’s life. One they will never forget, ones I still remember. Hope you aren’t too grumpy this morning! 😉
400daystil40
November 3, 2012 at 21:48
I think my daughter is grumpier than I am!!! 🙂
Trinity Rivers
November 3, 2012 at 17:31
The slumber parties I went to as a kid were soooo much fun. I was all for it when my daughter wanted to have them. That’s when I discovered that I can’t stay up all night like I used to. 🙂
400daystil40
November 3, 2012 at 21:48
Yes, no kidding – I cannot either – I feel so very old…. that was a very humbling discovery!
Sid Dunnebacke
November 3, 2012 at 20:28
You know you’re a hero in your daughter’s eyes now, right?
As a veteran of more than a few sleep-overs, I’m guessing you’ll make it through. Grumpy or not. 🙂
400daystil40
November 3, 2012 at 21:47
Hehehe – I am not so sure she sees it that way! We did make it through – they fell asleep at 5:00 – a.m.!!!
Sarah-Louise
November 4, 2012 at 12:13
I think slumber parties are possibly one of the important milestones of being a teenage girl; they teach us the importance of female friendship and create a bond that may die but will never, ever be forgotten. I really miss them actually!
400daystil40
November 4, 2012 at 17:45
Yes, they are – I used to love them as a child! 🙂
mskatykins
November 4, 2012 at 20:15
Ha ha! Love it! I also love the Drew Barrymore quotation! Thank you for reminding me how much I would enjoy having a sleepover, even in my adult status! But I’m back home right now, not sure if my mum would be up for it! 😉
400daystil40
November 5, 2012 at 19:27
You are welcome! Yea, sleepovers have new meanings at adults!
Lucianus Mauricius
November 8, 2012 at 06:47
My favorite used to be girls night in or out, I miss getting together with a bunch of guys and just be silly all night long. Since I’m a born entertainer, I love a little crowd of people to keep them laughing with role-playing and imitations, voice overs and so on, add to that some booze and you got a party. Life now doesn’t offer that anymore, it has been years and there will be more years like these to come, yet life goes on, even in solitude.
400daystil40
November 8, 2012 at 23:47
Yes, I also find it sad that we get older and the parties slow down and then we get stuck in our adult ruts, which can be very challenging.
Lucianus Mauricius
November 9, 2012 at 04:13
Tell me about it. I love geting all silly and let lose every once in a while, but as the years go by, those once-in-a-whiles stretch further and further apart