Whose Idea Was This?

Slumber parties--whose idea was that? How could slumber parties ever be a good idea? Ok, let's set aside all the *really* bad things that can happen at sleep overs. Even then, you have a group of kids who have moderately good judgment in the best of circumstances, sliding to somewhat questionable judgment if there isn't an adult nearby. And then we throw these kids together, all... night... long. Who makes a good decision at 3am? I know for me, that is the time when my thought processes are most scrambled, when logic and common sense have completely abandoned me. Why then would we think it is a good idea for a bunch of seven- and eight-year-olds to have sleep overs!?!

As you might have guessed, Allie went to a slumber party this last weekend. And let me be clear, she didn't even stay the night. We have dealt with Allie's alter ego, Grouchy Girl, before, and we knew that being awake all night long would be a disaster. So we let her stay through the main party and the first (FIRST!) movie. We picked her up at 10:30pm. Now, I knew that Grouchy Girl would rear her ugly head, but here we are three days later, and she is still ornery! You would think that mothers through the generations would have figured out what a bad idea sleep overs are, and have done something to stop them.

For example, I can imagine an Israelite mother, in captivity in Egypt, complaining, "That Miriam! Ach! We let her sleep over at her friend's house, and now she is worthless with putting the straw in the bricks!" Or a mother homesteading in colonial Boston saying, "Goodness, Eliza! You spent the night with Anne, and now the cow won't give milk for all your screaming and pouting." Surely one of these moms could have said, "Enough! No more sleep overs!" Surely at some point some parent somewhere would have realized that the joy of having the kid away for the night can not ever outweigh the pure drama and pouting and angst that follows these disastrous events. If there had been an organized outcry against these, we would know by now how hazardous they can be, and be forewarned to avoid them.

Not being fully aware of the peril of having her go to a sleep over, we succumbed. And now, dealing with Grouchy Girl, I have become the worst kind of parent. As I was trying to get her to do her homework tonight, I threatened everything from no dinner to no driving privileges when she turns 16. I know there are moms who can make life fun and a game, but when Allie comes home from school and glowers at me, then tells me that I don't care that she nearly almost could have choked on that candy (that she wasn't supposed to eat), I get defensive and panic, trying to force her to my will. Then, mid-rant at her, I realize that absolutely nothing is sinking in, so I proclaim, " Never mind. Go to your room. You can come out when you are 21."

Needless to say, there will be no more slumber parties for the Smiths. At least, not until Allie turns 21 and is allowed back out of her room.