Being a parent is like trying to solve a never ending riddle. There is no rule book – only general guidelines – and every child is different. Just when you think you’ve got it down, they enter a new phase and all you thought you knew is no longer valid.
Anyone who has read my blog regularly will have already gleaned that my daughter is something of a tomboy. She has friends of both genders, but the ones I hear about most frequently are the boys. This week the mother of one of her male friends asked if she could come over after school today for a play date – and a sleep over.
I wasn’t quite sure what to say. The play date was fine, but a sleepover? I kind of thought that most parents were on the same page as far as co-ed sleepovers went (as in NO), but these particular parents are European, apparently a much more broad-minded group of people as compared to the average American 
As usual, I’m probably getting ahead of myself and over-thinking things. They’re young and I know that it’s totally innocent, but in my mind parenting is all about setting precedents. I say yes to a co-ed sleepover when she’s 8, how will I explain my “no” answer when she’s 12 or 14 or 16 and she wants her boyfriend to stay over?
I guess I’ll just keep making it all up as I go along.
Tomorrow: pictures and a recap of my recent trip to Doha, Qatar.
I tend to shy away from my kids spending the night anywhere. And in this situation, I’d risk being the ‘uncool’ mom and saying yes to the play date and no to the sleep over.
I have five and I can tell you, even with the fifth, I’m shooting from the hip. They only think I have a guidebook. But if you do decide to say yes, I wouldn’t worry about saying no when she’s 12 or 13; she’ll know why. : )
by Shawna April 30th, 2009 at 7:33 pmShawna – I said yes, but it turned out to be a really long play date instead. She gorged herself on junk food, felt ill, and called me to come and get her. She puked just before I arrived.
On the bright side, I probably won’t have to worry about any further invitations!
by Jenyfer May 1st, 2009 at 9:25 am