Growing Pains

Nathan reached an important childhood milestone tonight: his first slumber party at a friend's house.

I was a little nervous to let him go--you hear so many stories. But I met his friend's mom, ran into her at Wal-Mart on Monday actually, and after talking it over with Brian, we decided Nathan could spend the night.

The party started at 6:30 pm. By 5:00 his bag was packed, his sleeping bag, pillow, and present were ready to go, and as he carried all of it around the house he asked every 10 minutes or so how long until it was time to leave. We finally made it to 6:20 and when I dropped him off, he ran to join his friends without so much as a "Bye Mom". I left our phone number with his friend's mom, but somehow I doubt she'll be calling me tonight to rescue a homesick boy.

Matthew, of course, was devestated that Nathan got to go to not only another birthday party, but a slumber party at that. Oh the unfairness of it all. When I tried to console him with the idea that he could have a slumber party with Dad he replied through his tears, "But that's not fun. I want to have someone who doesn't live at our house sleep over!" Unfortunately for him, I'm just not feeling up to sleepovers right now. Poor Matthew.

So, after some obligatory sobs and tears, Matthew decided a slumber party with Dad was better than none at all. He set up a big bed on the floor of the basement (he and Nathan do it all the time) and Brian took him to the grocery store so they could clean out the junk food aisle. Now Matthew is happily playing Playstation (Atlantis Squarepantis) on his pile of pillows and blankets and munching Oreos and Cheetos. By all appearances, he'll make it through the night.