Summer sleepovers

I wasn't allowed to have or go to sleepovers. My parents were not big fans of them. I think it had to do with responsibility and control. They were not very fond of having the responsibility of ensuring the safety of other children, and they didn't want to lose control over the safety of their own. I didn't get it when I was a kid. In fact, I was quietly resentful and jealous. All of my friends slept over at each other's houses, and I lived vicariously through them. Sleepovers by proxy are not really fun though.

Even though the calendar dictates when summer really begins, it started here a couple of weeks ago, really. Public school let out at the beginning of June, and baseball was mid-season by then. In fact, round one of the playoffs is already complete, and kids have been spending their days playing outside in the sprinkler, at Fountain Park, at the pool, and if they are lucky, at Rainbow Falls Water Park. Today is the All-Star game, and last night we attended the Home Run Derby and Skills Competition. Later this afternoon, we will be heading over to Frederic's coach's house for our first official summer BBQ.

Last night, Frederic had his first sleepover. While he and Lily have definitely slept over at their grandparents homes, and their cousin's have all slept over here, it's never trickled down to friends. Kevin has been Frederic's "best friend" for a while now. Kevin's a good kid. He's polite, most always in good spirits, good natured, and an excellent athlete. He helps Frederic be the good person he's growing up to be as well. We're of the opinion if you surround yourself with good people, then you should be alright too. Frederic seems to be doing a good job in that department.

I feel bad for Kevin. He's living with his parents in his mom's childhood home. His dad has been out of work for a couple of years, and has been battling his own demons during that time. Kevin's entire family have to share one bedroom in this house. There are three generations living in a three bedroom home. Sleeping in bunk beds with your parents for a couple of years has got to be a drag for a ten year old. So Cyndi decided to push a little on the sleepover.

Kevin's parents easily accepted the invitation, and yesterday was filled with Frederic and Kevin. Kevin was over early in the day, the boys played until lunchtime, when Cyndi made chicken and cheese quesadillas for them. Then they went to Fountain Park for several hours, and came back tanned and exhausted. A little more play time before dinner and then the Home Run Derby/Skills contest at the local high school (they wanted Kevin to stay for dinner, but his dad wanted to go to the Home Run Derby too, so we sent him home for a while). After quick showers (separately, of course, and in their own homes!), Kevin came over, his duffel bag filled with personal items for the night.

You could tell the boys were really excited, but really tired from the day. I've heard that sleepovers can be hell, and maybe they are when it's a houseful of nine and ten year olds versus one on one. The boys played quietly for a while, and watched "MVP: Most Valuable Primate," while Cyndi converted Frederic's bedroom into a tent. She spend a good half an hour literally transforming the room. She draped bed sheets from one end to the other, put a string/rope of some sort down the middle to create the triangle roof, used pillows and blankets as sleeping bags, and made sure that each of the kids (Frederic let Lily join in the fun, but not surprisingly, she ended up in our bed..."somehow...") had a flashlight. I didn't really hear a peep out of anyone once the lights were turned out. Seriously.

When I woke up this morning, I wondered where the late night pranks were, I wondered what they talked about, alone in the room without us, I wondered if they shared their thoughts with each other, shared their dreams, talked about baseball, or maybe even girls.

I promised blueberry pancakes for breakfast, and luckily they are still sleeping because I have not started on them yet.

I think our first sleepover can be considered a success. The boys seemed to have fun, the responsibility of watching and protecting another child was not intrusive at all, and we maintained "control" over ours.

Maybe my parents had it wrong.

Coda: Now that the boys are up, we've heard the truth...they were up until 2am, sneaking into the kitchen for--of all things--rice cakes, spying on me and Cyndi, exploring the dark house, and having fun. The pancakes have been made, buttered, smothered in syrup, and enjoyed (although the blueberries were a bit sour). Does this count as a successful sleepover?