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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU - to want my children to have their own bedroom

214 replies

newmum332 · 11/06/2020 15:05

I’m due to have twins in July with my DH. We have been together for 5 years and they will be my first children. He has 2 dd’s from his previous relationship, aged 7 and 10.

For context I have obviously been in his dd’s lives for 5 years and I have always been close to them, they are really lovely little girls and we also get on well with his ex partner, there is no animosity.

They normally stay with us every other weekend (pre coronavirus) and 1-2 nights during the week depending on work/school schedules. Sometimes one will stay without the other. We have always been as flexible as possible and happily have them to stay last minute if they want to see their dad during the week when it’s not scheduled.

It was always our plan to have the dsd’s move into the biggest out of the bedrooms, and share when they are here. We would let them pick new furniture decorate etc. Either have bunk beds or 2 singles, whatever they wanted. And then new dc’s would each have a bedroom.

However since we have mentioned this to them, oldest dsd really isn’t happy about it. Saying she might not stay as often and has become less excited about the twins arriving, has pretty moved stopped mentioning it to be honest. Dh is now feeling guilty and feels like we are evicting them from their bedrooms to make way for babies. This isn’t the case. He is having doubts and suggesting the twins could share as they are babies and will need less space, which technically is true but I just want them to have their own rooms.

AIBU to expect our children who will live with us full time to have their own bedrooms, and dsd’s to share when they are here together (which isn’t even all the time). I don’t want to upset anyone and don’t want our dsd to stop coming to see us as often. I feel like she’s almost giving us an ultimatum, is this normal for 10 yo? She has never done anything like this before. I feel like we are running out of time and I want to enjoy the last few weeks without worrying.

OP posts:
OneKeyAtATime · 11/06/2020 21:22

I don't get why people are giving you a hard time. Your reasoning made sense on paper. Congrats on the twins in any case!

Bubbletrouble43 · 11/06/2020 21:45

My twins share a room at 3 yo and I can't imagine why they wouldn't, they would hate to be separated. Tbh I think the older girls should have a room each certainly until the twins are bigger. You might find the twins, like mine, are actually happier sharing x

Branleuse · 11/06/2020 21:49

They will probably be happier in the same cot, and then as they get used to the world, cots alongside each other. They will get a lot of comfort from each other. The need for privacy and personal space is just not there in little babies, even if they might want it later

snowybean · 11/06/2020 21:59

I (female) shared with my brother until I was 9 and he was 10. It was fine up until the very end (we did have quite a large room though). He's 18 months older than me.

tartanbow · 12/06/2020 07:25

I think you sound lovely actually OP - very thoughtful. I disagree with others on here, it sounds like you intend to treat all your children the same.

I do agree in the respect of the twins sharing though, atleast for now and crossing that bridge if/when it comes to it further down the line.

VeganCow · 12/06/2020 07:43

I also disagree with others here, I do think you want to treat them all the same, you were thinking from a practical viewpoint. A 10 yr old wont have heard the practical stuff, will only have felt pushed aside.
I would speak to the older girl and tell her you have heard her and considered her feelings so for for now she can keep her own room. In a few years anything could change, house move, happy to share etc whatever.

ChewChewIsMySpiritAnimal · 12/06/2020 07:47

The twins don't need separate bedrooms. They can sleep in together, mine slept in the same cotbed in our room till they were over a year then we put them into their shared bedroom.

Ilovecats23 · 12/06/2020 08:10

Read all the updates and firstly would like to just say how nice it is of you to admit to them that you were wrong and apologise. It’s not a trait always seen in parents!

Also, my best friend has twins and at 3 (almost 4) they still share a bed! They have separate beds but will always get in the same one every night without fail, so honestly I think even if you had put them in their own rooms they probably would have shared anyway!

Congrats OP, twins are so exciting! Flowers

Helenluvsrob · 12/06/2020 08:14

You have a 10yr age gap to the eldest.
Babies in your room to start with and sharing till they are 6-8yrs would be fine. Give them the big room.

Sceptre86 · 12/06/2020 08:29

For the people saying the twins won't need their own rooms yet and to wait till they get older isn't that just delaying the inevitable (if op definitely wants them to have their own rooms)? Op's stepchildren are not resident all the time so don't need to have their own rooms at their dad's house. Do they share at their mum's? I think you have tried to make it nice for your stepchildren by giving up the master and letting them choose how to decorate but you are the adults and I wouldn't let a 10 year old make ultimatums. I would be ensuring they have lots of opportunities to spend time with the babies and their dad one on one so that they know they are loved.

CeeceeBloomingdale · 12/06/2020 08:33

10 year olds are starting to need privacy. Unborn twins will not need a room for months and even then can share. They may well always want to share. To push the other children out now would be hugely damaging to your relationship, it should have been sorted before you got pregnant if that was your intention. YABVU

CaspianSeaDog · 12/06/2020 08:46

You made a decision and then weren't so sure so asked for opinions. So you learned something and are now going to do it differently. There's no harm done. Honestly it's fine. Just explain to DSD that she can keep her room and you hadn't thought it through properly. I wouldn't make a big song and a dance.

SleepingStandingUp · 12/06/2020 12:12

@Sceptre86

For the people saying the twins won't need their own rooms yet and to wait till they get older isn't that just delaying the inevitable (if op definitely wants them to have their own rooms)? Op's stepchildren are not resident all the time so don't need to have their own rooms at their dad's house. Do they share at their mum's? I think you have tried to make it nice for your stepchildren by giving up the master and letting them choose how to decorate but you are the adults and I wouldn't let a 10 year old make ultimatums. I would be ensuring they have lots of opportunities to spend time with the babies and their dad one on one so that they know they are loved.
If the twins are BG then in X years time op can explain to the girls that the twins need to seperate as the boy needs his own room. Depending on their respective ages that might mean eldest keeps her own room, youngest sc and girl twin share and boy gets his own, or the sc get the largest room to share he twins get their own. If they're Ss twins they might want to share for longer and then eldest will have moved out. Sc might move to Dad's as primary residence in 2 years or they might move house. Op might have another child.

It isn't a you're allowed it for 5 years, it's a we might need to revisit this

Honeyroar · 12/06/2020 12:58

@Sceptre86 I think people are saying it’s a bridge that doesn’t need crossing for years..

Op hope all gets sorted with the stepdaughter. I’m sure it will.

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