Sleepovers are like clouds — no two are the same.
We have hosted about a dozen sleepovers at this point. Each one has been different with a commonality being the next day everyone is exhausted in the house from less sleep than usual.
I don’t have any crazy sleepover stories. For the most part, all the boys who have stayed at our house have been well behaved and done what was expected. There have been some late nights but nothing too extraordinary.
A friend of mine shared a story that made me think I’m pretty lucky. For his son’s birthday, they had four kids stay over, and they set up a bunker of sorts in their finished basement. He woke around 2 in the morning to all of the kids tearing apart the kitchen looking for food. He had apparently in the mayhem of it all forgotten about dinner for the five famished boys. That resulted in a late-night pizza party for all of them and a mess to clean up the next day.
Probably the oddest occurrence we have had during a sleepover came when I woke up at 3 in the morning to the sound of the television on in Beckett’s room. I assumed it was just left on accidentally and I would find my 9-year-old and his friend asleep.
When I walked in, Beckett was in his bed playing video games while his friend was sound asleep nearby on the floor with a jar of peanut butter nearby. Although this was over a year ago, I to this day think Beckett was asleep on some level because he was making no sense. The sight of my son up at that hour did not go over well, but I really did think he was half asleep at the time.
After I unplugged the gaming console from the wall and warned him not to turn it on again until we talked about it, he replied, “okay, aren’t we talking now though?” I had no interest in that banter at that hour.
The next morning I asked him if he remembered anything from overnight. He said he did not, even after I told him that he was up to all hours of the night when lights were to be out.
Weeks later out of the blue, he admitted that he had fallen asleep but then woke up and didn’t want to bother anyone. I was not buying it. He later did confess that he woke up his friend in the middle of the night so they could have a “Jif party.”
The final few weeks of school seem difficult for everyone.
The countdown is on for all involved in the education world. Beckett has just one week left and Carson has two weeks. With each passing day, the craziness level ramps up it seems while their concentration and focus has hit all-time lows. I take comfort in walking through halls of their respective schools in seeing this exists in most kids.
Both boys have each been keeping count of the days left for about a month, but they are not alone. Most teachers have been doing the same thing for a month or so. Some might not admit it, but I’m guessing they are equally anxious for summer break to arrive..
As a parent, I am pretty much done and in need of a change in routine. I know I’m not alone.
For example, when I found out Carson didn’t have a spelling test this week due to no school on Monday and field day on Friday, I was elated. It seems like a small thing, but we work hard with him on his spelling tests, and it was nice to have an easier week as a result. I’m also not going to miss the challenges that come with science fair and diorama school projects, although Pam handles almost all of these responsibilities with the kid.
Another example was this week when I was reviewing Beckett’s spelling sentences. A few months ago, I would have never allowed him to write a sentence using five spelling words that made little sense. The other night I actually let him use his attorney skills on me by outlining three reasons why he shouldn’t have to erase the sentence and do another one. He persuaded me in short order in contrast to months ago when I wouldn’t have let him get past the first reason.
I felt better about caving after a recent conversation with a few parents who acknowledged the days of checking over homework ended for them sometime around Easter. I figured we made it to Memorial Day at our house so we’re ahead of the game.
The close of the school year always comes with mixed emotions and I was glad to see both my boys understand that.
When I asked Carson if he was ready for school to be over, he gave me an enthusiastic thumb up. But, when I asked him if he would miss his friends and teachers, he acknowledged yes and turned his thumb sideways before returning up.
Beckett loves many aspects of school but does not enjoy working hard. He’s happy to see a break on that front, but wants to arrange for beach days this summer with his teacher and classmates. That way “they won’t miss me too much,” he says.
In our world, nothing really changes when school ends. We still have full-time jobs and are busier than ever in the summer. The kids just go different places rather than school. Carson goes to day care most days mixed in with a slew of doctor’s appointments and therapies, while Beckett works his way through a fun schedule of day camps.
Nonetheless, it’s the change of pace and routine that all of us will embrace.
