Mom Divides Internet By Admitting She Is Banning Her Children From Sleepovers To Protect Them
Do you remember the childhood excitement of getting to pack your bags and stay over at a friend's place for the night?
Slumber parties and sleepovers have long been seen as a childhood staple, but one mom disagrees.
A Viral Parenting Video Is Causing Some Debate
A young mom who goes by @heartmindedmama on TikTok describes herself as a "divorced boy momma" who shares videos on parenting with "the heart in mind."
Alissa, from Illinois, recently caused a bit of debate when one of her videos went viral on the social media platform.
She Has A Strict No Sleepovers Rule For Her Boys
In the clip, Alissa role-plays a conversation between herself and another parent wherein she admits that she has a strict "no sleepovers" rule for her children, aged 2 and 5.
She goes on to reassure any parents that her decision is not personal, but rather it applies to all other households (even including most family members).
The Mom Sees The Small Rule As A Way To Protect Her Children
Alissa says her reasoning is to protect her children from any possible harm they could encounter at someone else's home.
While some commenters agreed with her sentiment, more viewers were concerned about the children's experience.
How To Tell Your Friends No To A Sleepover
The video is titled "How To Tell Friends "No" To A Sleepover," and shows Alissa providing a conversation example of how her family navigates an invitation.
For Alissa, it's as simple as telling the truth.
She Politely Explains Her "Family Rule"
"Thank you so much for the invitation but we actually have a family rule, that we do not do sleepovers. It's not personal at all."
The mom continues, "You know that we love you guys and you're great. We have the same rules for all families."
Alissa's Number One Priority Is Her Children's Safety
The hashtags on the video include #childsafety, #boundaries, and #gentleparenting.
Alissa's 35-second clip has gained nearly one million views since it was posted on the platform and over 2000 comments from viewers on TikTok alone.
People Began Sharing Their Own Experiences In The Comments
Some parents were in her corner when it came to the concept of banning sleepovers, while other commenters asked the mom to consider how her kids might feel.
Many of the comments disagreed with Alissa's approach altogether.
Some Commenters Were Strong Supporters Of Alissa
Some people shared how their parents took a similar approach while growing up, and they are thankful for it now.
Others even said they don't take the time to explain their reasoning but simply say no.
Alissa Made A Follow-Up Video To Respond To Commenters
Following some of the negative comments, Alissa created a follow-up video to address people's concerns.
Particularly the ones about her children not being socialized enough. She was very understanding but held firm on her decision.
The Boys Are Allowed To Have Sleepovers With Close Family Members
Alissa explained that her boys both have very active social lives that include everything from "church, to swim lessons, to sports, to school, to playdates that aren't sleepovers, and to family time."
She also revealed that she does plan to allow them to have sleepovers when they are older and more mature.
