Sleepovers

A few years ago a friend asked me if our kids do sleepovers. I had never even considered it before but her question gave me a chance to think about it. I thought back to being a a kid and all the sleepovers that I had. Nothing bad happened during any of my sleepovers, thank goodness. But when I was doing my student teaching in college, a professor told me that 1 out of 5 homes had children being abused. Not all of them sexually, but that number was very shocking. Too many stories about molested children and boys getting together to look at pornography made me decide that day to say no to all sleepovers. I know I can't protect my kids from all things, but there are some things that I can do to help keep them a little safer.

Last night, Eric's friend, Andy had a sleepover for his birthday. Normally with sleepovers, we just tell the host that the kids can stay until about 10 pm. Andy was having a camp-out in his backyard. But, Mario talked Eric into skipping the evening party and staying home with him to watch a movie. Eric joined his friends this morning at the skate park. Andy told Eric that he was smart not to stay the night because one boy brought his cell phone and started to look up porn late that evening. Andy got upset and went to sleep in his own bed. I was so glad that Eric wasn't put into that uncomfortable situation. Eric said Andy seemed to understand at that point why we don't do sleepovers.

I feel bad saying no to all sleepovers but I feel that we have to say no to all because the kids won't understand if we say yes to some and no to others. It is just easier to forbid all.

I pray that my boys will stay away from all forms of pornography. It is scary as a parent to boys because you know how addicting it can be. But what may be even scarier is having a daughter because you have no idea if the man she decides to marry will have an issue with it. I read in the Ensign all the time about women who marry men and have no idea until after the wedding. All I can do is teach Erin to make sure she knows how to recognize the Spirit and make sure she gets that confirmation from the Holy Ghost that the man she chooses to marry is a worthy man. I can't believe how many women marry these men without getting that confirmation.