SLEEPOVERS

Sleepover

What is it with this culture and the eternal sleepover?  Where does this originate? I remember 1 or two sleepovers in my whole youth. My parents were not fond of them, and when I went as an adult I could never sleep, too uncomfortable around other people, could not relax.  

Our girls get invited to sleepovers and American parents let their kids do this all the time.  We need to know the parents, the family and the girls that are coming over. Granted I don't know very many people here in Middleton very well, yet it seems to be that either everyone knows each other, or they don't care if their children sleepover at someone's house all the time.  Now, don't get me wrong, I want my girls to socialize and let their friends come over.  But even that sometimes gets burdensome.  Are people so unsatisfied with their living situation they need to stay at someone's house all the time, even to sleep. Growing up we had friends that use to come over.  But they hardly ever slept over. Only on special ocasions, my 15th birthday party was one of those. 

Maybe someone can explain it to me.  Why is the sleepover so important in this culture?