When youre a kid, theres no party like a slumber party.
Staying up late, learning how to burp the alphabet, eating candy until you pukewhats not to love?
When youre a parent, hosting a sleepover is an exercise in taking the good with the bad.
Its far cheaper than renting a bouncy house, but what you save in money you spend in energy.
The people who actually plan to, you know,sleep.
The slumber party kids will fill the nighttime hours with giggles, shrieks, shouts and wrestling matches.
Sequester them in the basement or the den or the attic.
A bomb shelter is ideal.
Dont stress about having air mattresses or cots for each kid.
Theyll pass out anywhere, on any semi-soft surface.
Picking the Group
The size of the space will determine the size of the group.
Even if you have a giant house, cap the number of guests at eight or so.
Do these folks have a history of bickering?
This isnt the time to include a cousin or a neighbor.
Weve learned this through experience, after mixing two separate friend groups at one of our daughters slumber parties.
There was much crying and soothing and mediation that night, and we said, No more sleepovers.
Until we forgot we said that and planned another one.
Details, Details
Get phone numbers and essential information from the parents of your guests.
Food allergies, pet allergies, mortal fears.
Adjust the agenda as necessary without naming him as the cause.
You should be open about any dangers in your home.
Is your dog bitey?
Does your husbandeat dinner armed, like Homer Simpson?
(No swimming with the Glock!)
Younger kids, 6 or 7, will need direction.
You should be prepared to help them transition from crafts to karaoke, for instance.
(Lets not ride the laundry basket down the stairs, girls.)
Anyone 12 and older will murder you with cold silence should you make the mistake of attempting communication.
With movies and video games, find a consensus.
If Timmy is terrified of dragons, dont introduce him to Toothless.
My daughter loves to play the Telephone Game with her friends.
Shell organize an impromptu theater troupe under any circumstances.
Games like Twister, Pictionary or charades are great options for making everyone silly and exhausted.
Feel free to let the kids direct the evening, but know your limits and dont get played.
Make Siblings Disappear
This works both ways.
Older siblings can be jerks and shit-starters.
Younger ones can be clingy and annoying.
I munched popcorn and napped while he guffawed at jokes he knew by heart.
Theyll all feel even more special when theyre chowing down on donuts the next morning.
You remembered the donuts, right?
