Sleepover

watching Toy Story before bed...

Tonight our small friend Frances is sleeping over! She's slept over before, but not since she was a toddler happily oblivious in her pack-n-play. Now it's a big deal. We made her a cozy bed inside the pop-up fire truck on the floor in Henry's room, and Henry is beside himself with joy.

We tried to do it last night, but Henry had an ill-timed meltdown and was unable to pull himself together. Sad for everyone. As a result, the possibility of the sleepover happening tonight has been looming all day. In the car on the way to camp, Frances and Henry solemnly vowed to one another to be well-behaved ALL DAY, so they could have the sleepover. By dinnertime, they were anxious with possibility-- will it happen, or won't it? This was one of those times I got a glimpse of what terrible tyrants we are as parents, with ultimate power over their schedules, their pleasures, the fulfillment of their desires. They happily went to bed super-early and were chattering away in the dark, when Henry came out and said to Michael: "thank you, thank you, thank you, for letting us have the sleepover." When I went up to check on them at 8:15, Frances was fast asleep and Henry was shuffling around, making a bed next to her on the floor with his pillow, alligator and clock. "I have everything I need, Mom!" he said.