Belle goes to her first sleepover

An hour ago, Belle left for her very first sleepover.

A few months ago I did pose the question, how old should a child be before they go to a sleepover? I was a bit concerned about Belle’s rather dubious sleeping habits, and was imagining having to do a mercy dash in the middle of the night to rescue her.

I’ve decided though to take the chance, partly because we are five days into the Easter holidays now and quite frankly I could do with a break. This afternoon, after listening to her sing ‘snood, snood, snood, look at my snood, snood snood’ for what felt like five years, and consequently snapping at her to ‘shut up, please!’ I think someone else’s house is really the best place for her.

It would be fair to say she has been excited about her outing. “How long now?” she has been asking at roughly three minute intervals since Monday morning.

“Er, about 49 hours?”

Several minutes of fidgeting.

“And how long now?”

“About four minutes less than last time you asked.”

As the eagerly anticipated hour drew ever closer, and she was sat with her nose pressed against the window, twitching nervously, I began to worry she might actually keel over before they could arrive to collect her. Despite her excitement though, she was keen to play it cool.

“Ten minutes!” she yelled at 3.05pm, jumping up and down on the spot, eyes bulging, packet of Morrisons finest giant cookies in one hand. Then calmed herself and looked at me seriously, eyebrows raised. “When they get here, don’t tell them I was excited will you?”

“Really?” I asked, wondering exactly how she was going to pull off ‘playing it cool’ at the same time as hyperventilating, “Why don’t you want them to know you were excited?”

“I just don’t,” she said. “I don’t want to be embarrassed.”

The fateful hour arrived eventually and she did her best to appear nonchalant, gathering up her stuff, dropping it all again, tripping over it and generally mumbling incoherently. “Belle hasn’t been excited,” I added, unconvincingly I felt.

So now she is gone. I hope she enjoys it and they let her go again. I could quite get used to the peace and quiet.

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13 Comments

  1. 13 April, 2011 / 3:23 pm

    Better not crack open the wine just yet ! x

    • 17 April, 2011 / 11:38 am

      I stayed totally sober, just in case :-)

  2. 13 April, 2011 / 3:44 pm

    I remember ( and so does my friend) me leaving a sleepover when I was 11 and going home, no amount of coaxing or bribing would make me stay ( cant remember why). I got a massive ticking off, and my friend got smacked for making me leave. ooohhhh happy days, and yes I went back and we remained friends, and 40 yrs later still keep in touch.

    • 17 April, 2011 / 11:35 am

      Gosh, your friend got smacked because you wanted to go home? That sounds a bit harsh! Fortunately Belle managed the whole night, so no beatings were required…

  3. Vicky Nunes
    13 April, 2011 / 3:46 pm

    Oooh big moment.
    Rather jealous of the peace and quiet! Enjoy.

    • 17 April, 2011 / 11:35 am

      I actually quite missed her, which surprised me! Weird.

  4. Beth
    13 April, 2011 / 5:27 pm

    I am loving the song about the snood! Bless. Quite funny how young we become sensitive to being embarrassed and acting cool when we are actually desperately excited. I hope she has a great evening – and sleeps too!

    • 17 April, 2011 / 11:36 am

      Oh. My. God. You would not have been loving the song about the snood if you had had to listen to it for more than about 30 seconds I can assure you.

  5. 13 April, 2011 / 5:59 pm

    lol my kids were four when they went on their first sleepovers. It is fun isn’t it? The downside is when you have to have their pals sleep at yours in exchange and tell them to pipe down every half hour until midnight!

    • 17 April, 2011 / 11:37 am

      Yeah, I was trying not to focus on having to return the favour. Bee had two people sleep over on Friday night so I had them banging doors until all hours and then got woken by the sound of one of them throwing up at 8am?? Gross. At least I can just hide in my room when they are 16.

  6. 15 April, 2011 / 11:06 am

    I had to fetch my daughter at 1am from the last sleep over she went to as she got so upset.. so no more for my children until they can drive themselves home!

    • 17 April, 2011 / 11:39 am

      Haha! That sounds like a good rule! Sure you can go darling, just as soon as you pass your test…

  7. 24 April, 2011 / 10:27 pm

    Neither of my children have been to any other friends houses for a sleepover yet, although I’ve hosted a couple now. My daughter had a sleepover for her 6th birthday. She had 3 of her friends over and I have to say it was very manic and I wouldn’t choose to do it again!! However, my (now 7 year old) daughter AND her 5 year old brother had a friend each to stay this Easter break. Their friends also happen to be brother and sister (same ages as mine) and it was a much nicer experience. So nice in fact, that I’d be more than happy to do it again. Still waiting for their invites elsewhere so I can enjoy that glass of wine…..!

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