OT: DS8 first sleepover...HELP!

[JJ&JSMOM]

I'm a nervous wreck. DS8 had been invited over to a friend's house for a sleepover. DS8 is so excited but I'm a nervous wreck. DS8's friend has been over a couple times and hes a nice boy...very polite and friendly..maybe a little on the wild side (a daredevil I guess is the word)but I guess most 8 yr old boys are. DH knows this boys dad and DH has been over there a few times so he knows the dad and has been in their house and has a sense of the atomsphere. The Mom seems nice and good w/kids (soft spoken & friendly)..I've only talked w/her once or twice.

DH seems fine w/it. I guess I need some advice on first sleepovers. Should I call over there around bedtime? Make sure hes ok. I've thought about given him my cell phone (not to play with) in case he needs to call home and doesn't feel comfortable asking (for whatever reason). I don't know...I want to let DS8 go but its hard...hes shown me that hes ready to start doing more with his friends. Any advice would be so appreciated!

TIA
Joanne

 

[Hannathy]

He'll be fine! Do not call over at bedtime, what a way to embarrass a boy than to have Mommy call to say night-night. My DS has been going on sleep overs since he was 5 and went to Cub Scout camp by himself for 4 nights this summer at 8. Sometimes at sleep overs they will call home -all of them- close to bedtime if the Mom at the house tells them to, other times they are too busy having fun to bother. The one time my DS called I immediately said what's wrong and he said "nothing but Mrs. K told everyone to call and say goodnight, OK Bye" call lasted 15 seconds if that.

Advice- pack his stuff, give him a hug (but in the car) walk him to the door and let him go have fun. expect to pick up an excited little guy who will probably crash for a couple hours on the couch after you get home and he is done telling you who ate the most pizza and what movie they watched.

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

He'll be fine! Do not call over at bedtime, what a way to embarrass a boy than to have Mommy call to say night-night. My DS has been going on sleep overs since he was 5 and went to Cub Scout camp by himself for 4 nights this summer at 8. Sometimes at sleep overs they will call home -all of them- close to bedtime if the Mom at the house tells them to, other times they are too busy having fun to bother. The one time my DS called I immediately said what's wrong and he said "nothing but Mrs. K told everyone to call and say goodnight, OK Bye" call lasted 15 seconds if that.

Advice- pack his stuff, give him a hug (but in the car) walk him to the door and let him go have fun. expect to pick up an excited little guy who will probably crash for a couple hours on the couch after you get home and he is done telling you who ate the most pizza and what movie they watched.

Thanks for the advice. DS8 is a pretty shy kid so he hasn't really wanted to do anything w/his friends. But over the last year hes really grown socially - its great for him - I really him happy about it we were really worried about him finding his place. But hes right into sports and that has helped so much. So it looks like hes ready for more.

I'll probably call over anyway and talk to the Mom - I don't have to talk to him I just want to know if hes doing ok. I think his Mom would be fine w/that especially since its his first non family sleepover. DS8 is pretty sensitive so hes already saying he'll miss me. I just tell him that I'll miss him too but hes going to have so much fun. Hopefully he will. Thanks again.

 

[pixiewings71]

My DD is 7 1/2, she's already done 2 sleepover parties! LOL She's an old pro at it if you ask her. LOL Basically, we just dropped her off, she did take her Good Night Care Bear that she sleeps with every night, and told her that she could call us if she needed to. She called us before bed and said "good night" to us all and that was it. She's also had a sleepover and we did the same thing, we just let the girls call their Mom's whenever they wanted to and it was all smooth. Relax, I bet it goes off without a hitch!!

 

[3littleHalls]

I would say I am over-protective/over-bearing and DD(turns 8 next month) She just went to her first sleepover last weekend. I was worried like you. I talked to the mom having the party(High School Musical 2 sleepover) who would be there, plans, etc. We(moms) all asked if there were things we could send like cookies, popcorn, drinks. I gave DD a disposable camera to take pics at the party so she could show me what they did. I walked her in, took a couple of pics of her and the other girls, and left. I wouldn't call to talk to him at bedtime. One of the girl's mom did that and it made her want to go home. And my DD would have been embarrassed. My DD had a great time, she was sad it was over. Good luck not an easy thing to do, but I am sure your DS will have a good time!!

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

Thank you for the advice. Hes planning on going this Friday night. I'm actually excited for him because hes going to have fun. I need to get more info as to what they'll be doing. DH has done the only talking to them and I need to get more info as he doesn't think to ask some of the questions I would and vice versa. Thanks again.