Kids sharing a room? It's not working!

[Pembo]

The problem started when I said "Let's have another baby and let it be a girl."

We moved our ds's in together in June. They are 6 and 4. It's still not working. My oldest came to me sobbing about never being alone and needing privacy. After 5 months we can almost NEVER put them to bed in the same room. They won't go to sleep. We've tried putting one to bed and letting the other one stay up, first one won't go to sleep. We tried putting them in at the same time, letting them talk until sleep. They end up bugging each other and fighting. So most every night we put the oldest to bed in our bed and move him after they are both asleep.

So we are moving the oldest into the computer room. We moved the computer out of there last night and now I need to figure out where my "office" stuff is going to go so we can move his bed and toybox.

This morning he saw the computer in it's new home and is THRILLED at the thought of moving to the basement. And my 4 yo is devastated that his brother is leaving him. He wants a new room too and said he'll sleep in the laundry room in a laundry basket. ( poor kid)

Please someone tell me that their kids just can't share a room either. I need to know we're not alone.

 

[Cindy B]

My kids love to do it, sorry.. we would let them share if they aren't opposite sexes...


They are 7 (almost 8) and 5. Every weekend night, they both want to climb into my sons loft bed and look out the window.

Yes my son (its his room) sometimes complains that Lauren messes up his stuff, or she's playing too long on the computer.


All in all, its fine!

 

[janette]

Mine didn't do well. At our old house we didn't have an extra room so my youngest DD slept in the formal dining room. Before that we'd used it as a playroom so all we added was a bed.

We moved last year and they both have their own room now My youngest still prefers to sleep on the couch though. She didn't get new furniture when we moved, got the furniture that was in their shared room before so I'm going to redo it and hopefully that will help her to want to spend some time there.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

You're not alone Pembo.

My two boys have a very stormy relationship and it would be difficult to force them into sharing a room. I think everybody's sleep and stress levels would suffer.

Thankfully we have enough space to give everybody their own rooms and it sounds like you do too. My computer right now is in our Master bedroom. It's fine there. My oldest will be heading to college in 6 years and I'll go a home office back them.

 

[caitycaity]

you are definately not alone. my sister and i didn't get along at all when we were younger and there's no way us sharing a room would have worked.

 

[Talking Hands]

My two shared a room for 6 months after Hurricane Andrew but finally decided they were ready to go their separate ways. They prefer to have their own rooms now.

 

[damom2daboyz]

At our house my 2 sons are sharing a room...again. Up until the ages of 8 and 10, they shared a room. Then I moved to a house with 3 bedrooms and they were seperated, but every night the youngest ended up in bed with his brother. Now we have moved to a bigger house but it only has 2 bedrooms. The master bedroom is huge, so, they decided to bunk together again. There is enough room for 2 chests, 2 tv stands, a set of bunk beds, a captain's bed, 2 bookcases, and room to spare. The only thing they really fight about now is who is going to play which machine, time not equally divded between them. They are 11 and 13 now. I hope it continues to go this well...I have been surprised.


Debbie

 

[4greatboys]

My 2 oldest are 12 and 15--still fighting. They have separate rooms mainly for my sanity. That way when they are fighting or on my nerves I can send each one to his room and since they are alone--no one to fight with. Plus they have separate interests and friends. I think if you can do it separate rooms are the way to go.

 

[cinlee3]

Hey, 4greatboys - my sister used to live in Pearland until about 2 years ago. Her boys graduated from PHS.

Would you believe my boys ages 17 and 12 have to share a room. The only time they really fight about it is when it is time to clean the room. Each one says its the other's mess

They had separate rooms before DD was born but always ended up sleeping in the same room

It has only become a real problem lately, but neither one spends much time in the room and DS 17 will be headed to college next year.

 

[sogger1]

Could you arrange the furniture to split the room? Perhaps put up some sort of a divider or curtain to give them privacy?

 

[Pembo]

It's official...my 6 yo is in the basement! And couldn't be happier. My 4 yo is still mad but I told him he could "camp-out" with his brother sometimes!

 

[NHAnn]

Well, you do what you have to do as kids...and what you CAN do as parents.

I have seven siblings, 4 brothers and 3 sisters. Except for the first 2 of us (boys) and me (the first girl) none of us ever had our own room. And for those of us who did it was for a couple of years at best, when we were still too young to appreciate it ! LOL. So I can't relate to this at all...except the part about yearning for privacy

If your basement has alternate escape route in case of fire, that's a good solution!

 

[Pembo]

Well the first night is over. I was a nervous wreck, but DS slept fine in his "new room".

Yes NHAnn there is an alternate escape route. We live in a split level so we have a walk-out basement.

Now I'm missing the privacy of my secluded little computer room with the Disney Characters painted on the wall.......

 

[Boots]

Sorry you are having all this trouble! {{{{{HUGS}}}}}