Last weekend, my partner, Jamie, agreed to host a slumber party for our six-year-old and ten-year-old daughters. I’m not quite sure what transpired in that bedroom, but the cacophony sounded like a scene straight out of Jurassic Park. According to my girls, there was only one rule: no boys allowed. I learned this the hard way after I ignored the sign taped to my daughter’s bedroom door that read “pleas knok,” as I checked to ensure Jamie hadn’t been devoured by a velociraptor.
As I swung open the door, the girls froze mid-dance to some catchy kid pop tune. They were decked out in a mishmash of princess gowns, Halloween costumes, and quirky hats. The floor was a chaotic blend of outfits, board games, and naked dolls. Jamie was wearing what looked like a flower-patterned hat straight out of Little House on the Prairie, but her expression was far from serene; it was a mix of exasperation and maternal concern, leaving me to wonder just what was going on.
The moment I entered, both girls looked at me in horror, clearly unsettled by my presence in their no-boy zone. They quickly broke into a cult-like chant of “No boys allowed! No boys allowed!” Normally, I might have felt offended by this blatant discrimination in our modern world, but seeing the bewildered look in Jamie’s eyes made me reconsider.
You might be thinking that this doesn’t sound like the ideal way to spend your quarantine, and I get that. However, since the lockdowns began, Jamie and I have been searching for family-friendly activities that don’t involve endless hours of screen time. At first, I was okay with relaxing our screen time rules to accommodate work and school from home. But as weeks turned into months, and states slowly began to open up, we found ourselves all going a bit stir-crazy.
To make the best of a tough situation, we decided to have a series of slumber parties with the kids. Each weekend, we find a new spot. We’ve had a few backyard camping adventures, which have been particularly fun since Jamie and I finally had the chance to set up that fire pit we had been talking about. We roasted marshmallows, shared stories, and laughed — all the joys of camping without the hassle of packing.
We’ve even slept on the trampoline, though I’ll admit it wasn’t the best for my back. The beauty of these sleepovers is that they can be held just about anywhere. We’ve pitched a tent in the living room a couple of times and even had sleepovers in each child’s room. Honestly, we’re starting to run out of new rooms to try.
Not everyone in the family is on board with these slumber parties. While our daughters eagerly dive into the fun, our thirteen-year-old son is a different story. He’s at that cool teenage phase where getting him involved in anything feels like a monumental task. However, one night when we all gathered in the living room to watch The Rise of Skywalker, he inadvertently joined the festivities by falling asleep in an easy chair with a bowl of melting ice cream in his lap — I’d say that counts as attending the slumber party.
These sleepovers have turned out to be the highlight of an otherwise stressful time for our children. They’ve helped us bond as a family and provided the kids with something exciting to look forward to amidst the cancellations of their favorite activities.
Now, back to the girls-only slumber party I mentioned earlier. That night, as I settled into bed, I could hear my daughters giggling away. Although I felt a twinge of envy for missing out, I was also relieved to be in my own bed. Jamie slept in the next morning, appearing a bit worse for wear, which indicated it must have been quite the night.
My daughters couldn’t stop sharing how incredible their sleepover with Mom had been, and I jokingly mentioned I was a bit jealous that I didn’t get to join in. Their faces lit up, and they promptly announced, “Next weekend, it’s a dad-only slumber party.” Jamie shot me a knowing grin that seemed to say, “Get ready, buddy.” I smiled back at them and agreed. Even though it was a week away, they dashed upstairs to start planning. Let’s just say, I’m bracing myself for what’s to come.
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In summary, hosting family sleepovers during the COVID-19 lockdown has proven to be a delightful way to connect with our children, breaking up the monotony of quarantine life. It’s a creative solution that keeps everyone entertained while fostering family bonds, even if it means navigating the occasional “no boys allowed” sign.
Keyphrase: Family slumber parties during COVID-19
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