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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Or does she have squatters rights?

232 replies

Bettycrocker7 · 20/10/2024 18:22

We live in a 3 bed semi with no potential to move, extend or convert the attic.
Me and dh have one bedroom, dd13 and ds10 ( he has asd and adhd) share one room.
Dd 14 (she has adhd and asd) has her own box sized room.

Around two and a half years ago ds had the box room and the two girls shared.
My eldest dd was very difficult to share a room with. No emotional regulation, huge meltdowns, repeated unkind behaviour and she would stay up until the early hours.
After months of sleepless nights, we decided to put ds (then 8) and middle dd (then 10) in one room and give eldest dd her own bedroom in the box room. This did restore peace in the house for a while.

We've now reached a point where middle dd (13) needs her own bedroom. Her little brother is annoying her and she is embarrassed to have friends over.

We have found a company who will build us a floor to ceiling bunk bed as a room divider and split the one room into two box sized rooms. At the end of the bunk will be a doorframe with a fully opening and closing door. This will be cladded so that there are no gaps between the two sides of the bed - essentially creating two box rooms.

Middle dd has said she would like the existing orginal box room ( currently dd14 bedroom) to be her room, she is the only one out of the three who hasn't had use of it. She is also the only one of the three to have always had to share a room.

The original box room can only fit a shorty style bed which is perfect as middle dd is quite small. The two new box rooms fit full sized single mattresses which is better for dd14 as she is taller than me.
Where my eldest dd and youngest ds both have adhd and asd they are night owls staying up watching tv until the early hours. Middle dd loves routine and is often asleep by 10ish.

Eldest dd14 is refusing to even discuss a move into one of the newly built box rooms.
She is quite literally claiming squatters' rights. Generally speaking, it's often her way or no way, she isn't able to have calm discussions and will have a meltdown if I try to discuss it with her. When we first brought the topic up (in the car) she shouted a lot and repeatedly shouted no over and over and kicked the back of my chair quite hard.

My gut tells me that middle dd13 is due her turn in the existing box room. I think it's better for the two children that stay up all night to share a party wall rather than all three be awake because either one of them is bugging middle dd.

I also feel that as a family we have always prioritised dd14 needs and that she does need to accept that sometimes in life she can't always get her own way and needs to learn to compromise.

So aibu to insist that DD14 move into one of the newly built box rooms.which fits a bed more suitable for her size? Does DD14 have squatters' rights? Or does DD13 have a fair argument in that she needs some peace and quiet and her turn of the original box room? DD13 has been sharing and compromising for the last two years by sharing with her brother so I do feel her argument has a fair bit of weight to it

OP posts:
MK8MS · 20/10/2024 18:32

I wouldn't rock the current arrangement, it will just create huge problems for everyone and I don't think your DD13's very small gain would be worth the pain.

DanielaDressen · 20/10/2024 18:31

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terriblyangryattimes · 20/10/2024 18:29

You are their mother, you pay for the house, your decision is final (and your partner's - make sure you're both on the same page and tow the same line)

Amanitacae · 20/10/2024 18:29

Squatters rights? What are you talking about? She’s not a squatter. Let’s start there.

SinnerBoy · 20/10/2024 18:26

I'm sorry, I don't know the answer, but I'm very interested to see what others think.

I did start writing something, but reading it back, it looked a bit daft!

Supermand · 20/10/2024 18:26

No she doesn’t have squatter’s rights, which don’t arise if you are using a space with permission of the owner.

I’m not entirely sure why you want to move her though.

twomanyfrogsinabox · 20/10/2024 18:26

Make up your mind and tell them this is what's happening, negotiation isn't going to work.