Your cart is currently empty!
Why We’re Making Our Kids Share a Room
Updated: Feb. 19, 2021
Originally Published: Feb. 17, 2016
I must have misjudged how sleep-deprived I was when I suggested to my partner, one bleary-eyed morning, that our two boys should share a room. Clearly, my blood sugar was dangerously low because the aftermath of this bold decision has left me both drained and a tad optimistic.
Let me lay it out for you. As a child, I was subjected to the torture of room-sharing with my sister for what felt like an eternity. We battled over everything—her side of the room often resembled a tornado zone, inching closer to the duct-taped line I had strategically placed to mark my territory. I was too noisy, she was too goofy. I was bossy, and she never stopped complaining. Our constant skirmishes finally ceased once we were liberated into our own bedrooms.
To steer clear of a repeat of our epic sibling wars, my partner and I decided to embrace a philosophy of shared space. We would create a “kid room,” devoid of the concepts of sides or “mine.” Borrowing from my partner’s laid-back parenting style, we aimed to instill a sense of cooperation and problem-solving through this arrangement.
Initially, life felt blissful in our little utopia, but then reality came crashing in. Our boys, like all kids, have distinct personalities with unique desires that rarely align. One child craved a bunk bed, while the other preferred a traditional setup. One wanted a green room, and the other was suddenly opposed to that shade, favoring a bold ketchup red instead.
Surprisingly, we managed to find a balance. They each got to pick their own bedding theme, we settled on beige walls, and a carpet covered part of the floor.
Just when we thought we had weathered the storm, the first week in their shared room became a chaotic adventure. I mean, “all hell” broke loose—think pillow fights escalating to a barrage of stuffed animals and culminating in a ceramic piggy bank soaring off the shelf, shattering into a glorious mess of scattered pennies worth about $43.
Then came the design crisis. One child decided he wasn’t fond of the beige walls and took it upon himself to “fix” the problem with leftover living room paint—a horrendous butter yellow—slapping it on his “side” without a care in the world. Meanwhile, the other child became terrified of the dark and insisted on sleeping in his brother’s bed every night. In a classic older-brother move, the firstborn retaliated by whispering spooky stories until tears rolled down little cheeks, followed by furious stomping down the hall at 2 a.m. and fists banging on our bedroom door. Ah, the joys of parenting!
On the bright side, they have managed to navigate a few roommate challenges together, which gives me hope. When I ask them to tidy their room, they collaborate to shove everything under the bunk bed or cram clothes and toys into their closet’s dark abyss. Teamwork! I often hear them whispering at night about important kid stuff, which warms my heart. Bonding! And when they both want something from me and I say no, they dash to their room to strategize how to charm or persuade me into a yes. See? Cooperation!
Childhood is fleeting, and I want my boys to grow into respectful, responsible, and adaptable adults. By sharing a room, they can learn valuable life lessons in a low-stakes environment. For now, I’ll continue to mediate the absurd disputes that arise, and honestly, that’s perfectly fine with me.
For more insights into parenting and family life, check out our other blog posts, including this one on navigating home insemination. If you’re curious about the journey to parenthood, this article from Make a Mom offers great resources. And for all things pregnancy-related, Women’s Health is an excellent resource.
Summary:
In this humorous take on the trials of parenting, Jamie Thompson reflects on the decision to have her two sons share a room. Drawing from her own childhood experiences, she highlights the chaos that ensues, from pillow fights to creative room makeovers. Despite the inevitable disagreements, she sees the opportunity for growth and bonding as her children learn to navigate shared living.