Ok. This is the problem. I am 12 almost 13 and I have never had a sleepover in my life without crying. I think I have some kind of like sleepover phobia. I can’t have sleepovers and someone else’s house, not even my bffl, my cousin, or even my grandma who lives I house down!!! It is getting really old and I’m sick and tired of it. I’m, as my dad says, “wasting away my whole childhood” :). So my question for GL is, how should I get over it? Do I need a therapist or what? Because me trying to get over it by myself hasn’t worked. It has I think just made it worse. Please Help.

-Peggy
 
 
Hey Babes,
Its ALWAYS difficult to be out of your comfort zone, but I agree with your dad. You’re 13, you should be enjoying your friends and all the perks that come with those friendships including sleepovers. Take a moment to reflect on what it is that upsets you about being away from home. Do you just get homesick and miss your parents? This is a really overwhelming feeling that can only be combated by practice. You need to start making moves to flee the nest. Why don’t you practice by staying at your grandma’s house one night? If you start feeling sad or overwhelmed, play a game or watch a movie. Do anything to take your mind off of it.
 
Remember that you are with people that you LOVE to hang out with. You aren’t with strangers and you aren’t in a strange location and nothing bad is going to happen to you. If you are having a difficult time focusing on the fun you’re having or if you just feel dread when you are at a sleepover, maybe you need to talk it out with someone. At this age you should be able to be away from home for 24 hours. Like anything, practice makes perfect. If it will help you out tell your friend that you sometimes get overwhelmed in sleepover situations. I bet your fear that you will be judged makes things a lot worse. If you put it out in the open in the beginning, it will be a HUGE weight off your shoulders and you probably will get along just fine!
 
XOXO,
Jana

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