Our wild and crazy neighbors hosted a backyard camp-out this evening.  They had s’mores, and popcorn, and a movie on their big outdoor screen!  They invited dozens of people to bring tents and sleeping bags and have a camp-out — a final summer fling!  (The have the most awesome backyard too!)

We were debating all afternoon about going.  I was tired and having social anxiety (I don’t know what  the hell is wrong with me these days!) and the kids really wanted the screentime they had worked for all day.  We hemmed and hawed and eventually decided to go for the movie and consider the sleepover part.  Of course, once we got there Eve was all into the sleepover!  We agreed that she and I would sleep in our sleeping bags under the big night sky.  Sounds lovely doesn’t it?

We had fun watching the movie and eating lots of popcorn.  Then all the kids played several rounds of a outdoor running game, and by that point it was 10:30 and there was no sign of settling down.  The grownups were sitting around the fire pit chatting and the kids were running around and bouncing on the trampoline in the dark.  About half the people had left by this point, but probably 25 or so adults and kids were sleeping over and therefore still there.

This is about when mean mommy reared her ugly head.  I decided that we really should be home sleeping in our beds.  We had a late night every night in Franklin (yes, I will write about that soon!) and everyone is tired.  I wasn’t excited about the kids on the tramp in the dark and I wasn’t (truthfully) excited about making small talk with people I don’t know well in the dark as midnight approached!  Alan and Lex had been planning on sleeping at home anyway, so they were easy to convince, but Eve wasn’t happy at all.  Fortunately we had fun daddy there to get her home and make her giggle, despite her anger.  I decided not to remind her that only a few hours ago she wasn’t even sure she wanted to go at all.  I love the idea, in theory, of sleeping under the stars, but I guess to be perfectly honest I’m kind of boring and also love the idea of NOT dealing with overtired kids tomorrow.  Sigh.

It reminded me of years ago when I had to drag kids away from playdates so we could get home for lunch and nap.  I knew I wasn’t the fun mommy, but I also knew that my kiddos needed naps and without them no would have fun!  I know staying there tonight would have been fun for her, but I also know that she needs sleep and that staying there would make tomorrow a mess.  Sometimes you gotta be the practical mom, even if it’s not so fun.

Alan giggled her all the way into bed and she fell asleep shortly after I got done laying with her.  I’m pretty sure all will be forgiven in the morning.  :)

Morning update: Eve slept until 9:45am!  I feel totally validated in my parenting decision! Now the neighbor kids are over here playing and everyone is happy because my kiddos are well rested.  :)