Lately I have been thinking alot about things that I was allowed to do while growing up. Silly things that really aren't that big of a deal, but that I couldn't see me letting my kids do. I do realize that the majority of my kids are still pretty young, and can't do many things unsupervised. I also think that parents in general have become much more protective of their kids because of predators out in the world. I wonder if it was much different when I was growing up (as far as dangers go) or if we have much more access to information so the world seems to be a scarier place to let our kids out into.
Today I was a good mom, and set up a 'playdate' for the kids. Caden and Sydney each called one of their friends to come over and play for a few hours this afternoon. They had been begging all summer to have an 'official' playdate (they had many 'unofficial' ones), and since school starts next Wednesday...I figured I should actually do it.
They both had alot of fun with their friends, but with all things, it had to come to an end. While driving Caden's friend home, they were talking about how much fun they had. Then Caden said, "We really had a good time...we should have a sleepover sometime! Mom, can we have a sleepover??" {crickets chirping} I told him that some people can't do that, and we would have to talk about it another time.
Up until this point, it really has never been something I have had to even address. The kids have only spent the night with family with a few exceptions when we have been out of town or having a baby. We haven't really thought about whether or not it would be something we would do.
I am on the fence about the issue. I have heard many different stories about horrible things that have happened to children while away from home. Yet at the same time, I grew up having 'slumber parties' for many of my birthdays. We would stay up until wee hours in the night/morning or sometimes not sleep at all. I always had alot of fun, and created some great memories.
The problem I have is that I am comfortable having kids here, but of course once they have a sleepover then the child wants to reciprocate, and have them over to their house....and I am sure there will be friends that I won't feel comfortable let my kids go there. I hate to feel like I am picking and choosing, and don't know how to explain to my child why they would be able to spend the night at one friends house, but not the other. Obviously the easiest thing would be to say no sleepovers except with family/cousins.
We are just curious as to how you may handle it.
Right now I think my kids are a little too young to allow it, but I know the question is going to be coming up much more often as they get older. So we want to come up with a decision and stick with it.
So dish it out! No one is right or wrong. {So please no fighting if one feels more strongly one way or another. }
Do you let your kids sleepover?
If you do, what age is appropriate to be able to?
If not...Why?
What are the pro's & con's?
What are some things that you did as a kid that you can't imagine letting your kids do?
A Few for me...
Letting my kids play outside in the front yard without me (again...some of my kids are too young to even think about it, but I know when I was 7-8 (Caden's age) that I did go out on my own.)
Buying something from the 'Ice Cream Man'.
Walking almost 2 miles to school, and in order to get there, having to j-walk across a MAJOR street (Stapley)...given, I was in Junior high...but still!
Going door to door selling stuff ALONE (some organizations have rules against that now...thank goodness! Although I sold over 300 boxes of Girl Scout cookies that way)
Can't wait to hear your thoughts! 
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