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Why They Call It a ‘Sleepover’
by Jessica Lane
Updated: June 23, 2020
Originally Published: September 25, 2015
I never intended to cause any chaos. It was merely a mishap, a consequence of a sugar-fueled frenzy. Let’s be real—who in their right mind invites six hyperactive 5-year-olds to spend the night? While other kids enjoyed pizza parties or clowns at their celebrations, I was celebrating with Fudgie the Whale and Nesquik. After indulging in that much sugar, what comes next is a predictable plummet.
And where better to crash than the bathroom? That’s where a birthday princess would host a raucous game of pretend at an ungodly hour. “You, my loyal subjects, entertain us!” I commanded. “Clamber onto the edge of the bathtub and perform!”
Tiny girls may appear delicate, but when you hang six of them from a shower curtain rod—bolted firmly to the tiled walls—you’re in for a demolition worthy of a reality TV show. When the rod came crashing down, we scattered like startled mice, and I, the tiny princess, led the charge. I reached my bedroom in a matter of seconds, dove into my sleeping bag, and pretended to be sound asleep. “What was that noise?” I stammered when my mom arrived.
Ah, the illusion of innocence. Unless your mom is the judge in this scenario—and yes, I was guilty. “We’ll discuss this in the morning; don’t expect to have another sleepover anytime soon,” she warned. But we all knew the truth: none of us were truly sleeping. We were up to no good.
My mom stuck to her word, limiting my sleepovers to one friend at a time and never again permitting a Fudgie binge. My brief reign of terror during that midnight make-believe session left an impression that lingered.
As for me, despite my initial resolve to wait until my kids were ten for sleepovers, here I am, with my oldest, Lily, turning ten back in February and already racking up over 25 sleepovers.
When Lily was nearing third grade, she’d been nagging for a sleepover for ages. “Not yet,” I insisted. “You’re not ready; we don’t know that family well enough. What if they have dangerous stuff lying around or eat Oreos the wrong way?”
I recall that feeling of wanting to be with friends all night, talking until we were too tired to form coherent thoughts. That bond is special, especially for kids who want to maximize every moment together.
Fortuitously, we became friends with a neighbor who had a daughter entering third grade as well. The girls quickly became thick as thieves; they devoured Oreos in the proper fashion. So, when they both asked for a sleepover, I agreed.
We sent Lily to her friend’s house one evening, and shortly after, we hosted her friend at our place. My expectations were met with laughter, snacks, and colorful, hand-drawn friendship posters, along with me reminding them repeatedly to head to bed.
It was a milestone, though it felt like a typical moment in the journey of growing up. For the first time, Lily was away for the night, and I felt the years racing by. I was both proud and a bit let down when she didn’t call me in the middle of the night, begging for a ride home. As a hostess, I was warmed by her friendship, ready to embrace this new chapter.
However, one thing I had completely overlooked was the fact that sleepovers usually result in very little sleep. The girls rearranged blankets and sleeping bags, and my attempts to enforce a bedtime were futile. They stayed up late and woke early, squeezing every last drop of joy from their time together. No longer were they the little ones that would fall asleep after a hectic day; instead, they were older girls who relished every moment of their waking hours.
While they might not have caused any major bathroom catastrophes, my daughter and her friend demonstrated that a sleepover is really more of a wakeover. A snooze-not. A stay-up-‘til-dawn!
Just like Inigo Montoya says to Vizzini in The Princess Bride, “You keep using that word; I do not think it means what you think it means.” Maybe it should be called a giggle-all-night or a chat-fest.
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In summary, while sleepovers might be designed for rest, they often turn into delightful chaos and cherished memories, marking a significant step in our children’s journey toward independence.
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