Sleep over

My 5-year-old daughter reached another milestone this weekend.  She was invited for her first sleep over.   The invitation brought her so much joy.  She practically skipped around the house gathering the necessities.  In order of importance: American Girl Doll,  dress-up shoes and a half eaten bag of chips. That would be one hell of a party, but we traded Barbie and chip crumbs for pajamas and a sleeping bag.  

I asked her not once or twice, but three times if she  wanted to stay.   “Are you sure?”    I’ve known the other child’s mother and father since middle school.   I didn’t have to run a background check or interview their references.  They are really good parents.   I was completely confident my daughter would be safe and well cared for.  I just wasn’t ready for her to want to go.  

She is still the little girl who likes to crawl in my bed and says “I love you” a dozen times a day. My daughter is my shopping buddy and doesn’t leave my side at most events.  I dropped her off fully expecting to receive a call in the wee hours of the morning.  She will want to come home.

The phone never rang.  It was like I was in high school all over again. 

I should’ve been happy.  My 8-year-old son was occupied watching a video of somebody playing a video game.  Doesn’t that sound like a blast? He has the video game, but instead of playing it he watches someone named “Stampy” play.  “Stampy” is a cat.  Well, it is a British man with a high pitched voice pretending to be a cat.  “Stampy” has over six million subscribers on YouTube.  Let that sink in.  

I had several hours to myself.   I could’ve spent that time reading a book or watching an entire movie.   Instead, I  checked my phone every minute or so while binging on hard candy.  How was she going to fall asleep without me tucking her in?  What if she wakes up in the middle of the night?  

She actually had a great time.  The only tears shed were my own.   I realized several things last night.  1.)  A cat named “Stampy” makes more money than anyone I know with a college degree   2.) I am one root beer barrel away from wearing support hose and playing Bingo  3.) I am going to need a prescription for Valium when my children leave for college.