The sleepover party. Every mom knows their kids are eventually going to ask for one, simultaneously dreading and looking forward to the day. After all, for every long and arduous night you'll spend hosting a slumber party, there's (hopefully) another night when your child will be invited to pack up their sleeping bag [1], stay at another poor mom's house, and keep her up way past her bedtime. While some moms avoid sleepovers at all costs [2], others recognise that they're part of the parenting game and find ways to survive them [3] (and maybe even enjoy a moment or two).

My 7-year-old daughter just started having sleepovers, and I have to say, they're a mixed bag. On one hand, it's pretty sweet to see your kid go bananas with her friends (my daughter said her first slumber party was the best night of her life); on the other, they kept me up until almost midnight, then woke me up at 6:30 a.m. demanding breakfast and forcing me to pretend like the prospect of making pancakes sounded fun. If you're about to host a slumber party, here are 17 thoughts that will probably run through your head during the oh-so-exhausting process.

"I'm going to make this fun!"

Flashing back to your own childhood sleepovers, you decide you're going to make this a night your kid and their friends will remember forever.

"Where can I stash these kids for the night?"

Realizing that the screaming will not subside, you start brainstorming places you can set up the party that will be as far from your bedroom as possible. A basement is ideal, but any room on a different floor is acceptable. You gently suggest everyone moves their stuff and their bodies to that spot.

"Did I just hear them say they plan to stay up all night long?"

Oh, hell no. You remind one guest about her early soccer game, another about the party her parents are taking her to tomorrow, and your own kid about the wrath you'll rain down on them if they keep you up all night.

"How can they still be awake?"

You've seen them run laps around your house for hours, and they don't seem to be slowing down. You're simultaneously jealous of their energy and mortified that you agreed to host this slumber party.

"Where can I hide?"

It's not that they want to hang out with you, but they definitely want you available to serve them. You begin to scope out places to hide from the food, water, and blanket requests.

"Why are they already up . . . and hungry?!"

It's barely light out, but the crew is requesting pancakes with whipped cream, chocolate chips, sprinkles, and blueberries, and you might drown yourself in the syrup.

"Yay! Their parents are here."

You see cars pulling into your driveway and yell at the kids to pack up their stuff ASAP. This party is o-v-e-r.

"No, we cannot plan another slumber party."

Two minutes later, your kid asks if they can have another slumber party the next weekend. It doesn't take you long to answer "absolutely not."

"Man, do I need a nap."

You put on a movie for your kids, hoping they'll pass out from the exhaustion of the sleepover, and head to your bed to collapse, praying your family will take pity on you and let you snag a nap.