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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:
Starlight7080 · 20/10/2024 21:21

Bettycrocker7 · 20/10/2024 20:37

She isn't managing at school at all. She has low attendance due to school refusal and is repeatedly in isolation or suspended. I'm very worried about gcses and we have early help and camhs engaging with school trying to find the right way through for her.

Maybe if they went to bed at a sensible time . And didn't stay up all night
Parent to a asd child here who has strick rules for this very reason.
You are doing them no favours longterm letting them do as they please for fear of a meltdown .

GoldenLegend · 20/10/2024 21:21

It looks as though your problem is that your 14 yo has discovered that a tantrum will get her what she wants so when she wants something she has a tantrum and you then give in.

She's 14, not 4. I wouldn't give in to her.

MikeRafone · 20/10/2024 21:21

you're in charge, not dd14

CrazyGoatLady · 20/10/2024 21:21

WaitingForMojo · 20/10/2024 20:58

This I think is the issue. A meltdown is not a tantrum.

You’re not wrong to make her move, but imo you are wrong to view it as behavioural manipulation.

This.

I agree with the counsellor who talked about the drama triangle. You're cycling between rescuer (giving in every time) and victim (resenting giving in and feeling persecuted by her meltdowns and then framing them as tantrums, which gives you permission to move into persecutor).

IMO, family therapy would be the best option, preferably with a therapist who is well informed about autism.

IOSTT · 20/10/2024 21:22

orangegato · 20/10/2024 20:58

I feel for all the kids as you adults have control of the situation yet this is what you’ve created for them.

Move house? While middle DD should logically get the room I’d kick off massively if I was the eldest having to suffer because my parents had more children than they could afford to house properly.

A 3 bedroom house is more than enough to house 5 people. You sound selfish and spoiled.

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 20/10/2024 21:23

Bettycrocker7 · 20/10/2024 20:45

It's ha.
We can go on the exchange list when eldest dd turns 16.

Can you look into whether you could go on the exchange list now if you explain your children's disabilities?

Tell them your oldest child cannot share a room due to her disabilities and as a result you have a 13 year old girl and a 10 year old boy sharing.

StormingNorman · 20/10/2024 21:23

Macaroninecklace · 20/10/2024 20:36

No, I did not say that. In fact twice I’ve said if it were my DC I would probably make them move. I can see how you might have extrapolated that from my comment about a wheelchair user, but my point there was simply that you can’t put autism aside any more easily than a physical disability.

And plenty of people have called OPs daughter a brat etc which in my book is belittling her reaction to what is potentially quite an upsetting situation for her because of her disabilities. As someone whose child would behave similarly if his safe space is threatened, reading here confirmation that many people think he’s just being a brat is not a nice thing.

And with that I’m bowing out. I’m not willing to derail OPs thread any further. I hope the bedroom situation is resolved with as little upset as possible and all three children end up with a bedroom they are happy with.

It is important that autistic people learn self-regulation if it’s at all possible. We often know when we are being weird or overreacting and in a NT world it is us who have to adapt nine times out of ten.

Bruisername · 20/10/2024 21:25

Once the new rooms are done I would have a no tvs upstairs rule

adhd dd14 can stay up as late as she wants but on school nights all tech is gone from 9.30.

I can be weak with the tantrums as they wear you down but pp is right that routine and consistency is the only thing that really works

perhaps take her out just the two of you to talk about what’s going on with her. My dd is far more receptive when i spend time one on one and I listen to her and explain why what she wants isn’t going to happen. I also get little nuggets about the things that are causing her worries or where she recognises her triggers so we can try and get her to manage them herself

LongLiveTheLego · 20/10/2024 21:28

WhatsInTheRug · 20/10/2024 18:33

Are these room diving things legal when it comes to safety regs etc?

Of course they are legal in your own home. They may not meet fire regulations so you need to consider that, and if they don't remove them before selling.

Lovelyaryan · 20/10/2024 21:28

Bogginsthe3rd · 20/10/2024 18:45

You need to move to a bigger house. The splitting room plan sounds like robbing Peter to pay Paul and will leave no one happy. Have you looked for larger houses in the same area ?

Not everybody can afford to move into a bigger house...

berksandbeyond · 20/10/2024 21:28

I think you and your partner should get a sofa bed in the living room and give the children a bedroom each.. why did you choose to have so many children that you can’t adequately house? Surely you realised when the 3rd baby was born this was going to happen sooner or later?

Rosybud88 · 20/10/2024 21:31

Your way or the high way, do what you think is best and the children will have to learn to accept this.

Bruisername · 20/10/2024 21:31

Re you splitting the biggest or the middle bedroom?

WhatsInTheRug · 20/10/2024 21:33

@LongLiveTheLego

It's not her house. It's rented

HA

BeerForMyHorses · 20/10/2024 21:33

So you have a playroom/dining room or large living room you could adapt?

Turning a downstairs room into your bedroom would be an idea to give all the kids their own room ?

DoreenonTill8 · 20/10/2024 21:34

Bettycrocker7 · 20/10/2024 21:14

He functions well, school reports are good. No behaviour issues .Eldest dd is falling asleep in class and we are in desperate need of melatonin. We have tried removing the tv after a certain time but her meltdowns are LOUD and full on and camhs advised that perhaps the background noise is soothing for her? Either way once they rationalised it in front of her that was that argument said and done.

So she has learned that screaming and shouting gets what she wants?Remove the tv and replace with white noise machine or radio?

Notsureinlife · 20/10/2024 21:36

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)

This.
Don't let a child rule the roost.

HaleyBrookeandPeyton · 20/10/2024 21:36

Have you spoken to the HA about this as they will need to give written permission as its their property (although I know its your home)? I work in a connected industry and we wouldn't give permission for this if 1 of the bedrooms doesn't have its own door, window (and radiator) as it wont be classed as a habitable room. Please speak to them before you spend money on this just in case its refused.

But back to your question, I agree that your older DD should move as its better for your family for the 2 night owls to be sleeping nearer each other and for middle DD to finally have her own private space.

suburberphobe · 20/10/2024 21:36

You need to move to a bigger house

Yea. Because everyone on MN is a multi millionaire, eh?

*Box room says it all.

offyoujollywelltrot · 20/10/2024 21:39

Oh for goodness sake.

Stop pandering to these tantrums, and put your foot down. This level of permissive parenting is ridiculous.

Delphiniumandlupins · 20/10/2024 21:40

berksandbeyond · 20/10/2024 21:28

I think you and your partner should get a sofa bed in the living room and give the children a bedroom each.. why did you choose to have so many children that you can’t adequately house? Surely you realised when the 3rd baby was born this was going to happen sooner or later?

Why does children sharing a bedroom mean they are not adequately housed? OP has already explained that when the third child was born they had no idea of the SEN needs of oldest DD.

Fireflies8 · 20/10/2024 21:41

I'm on your dd side here. It must be hard for her to share rooms with her sister then get moved to the box room .Her little room where she can regulate from the stress of life being neurodiverse. Maybe she can't take the change. I feel for her but at the same time your trying your best to sort something out for your children the best you can.

For the posters saying why have so many kids...lots of kids share rooms growing up OP states she didn't know they were neurodiverse till a few years later.

I think if you can move house to a 4 bedroom...maybe a fixer upper or a house for the Same value but more spacious in a different area it would be a better option in the long run.
The boy would not want to share rooms with a teen dd growing up and also you say he has adhd/hyperactivity so how can he cope in a small partitioned space.

MrRobinsonsQuango · 20/10/2024 21:41

Westofeasttoday · 20/10/2024 21:16

I would say it’s because she is clearly in charge and the mum is acting like the child.

The parent is in charge and makes the rules. Stop placating to your daughter and do what’s best for everyone.

Err this. You need to stop feeding into her bullshit. The room change is happening end of. She’s had it her way for a fair old while. I say that as someone who is neurodiverse and routinely tells their children it’s not all about them. Her neurodiversities / preferences don’t override a whole house of other people.

TheMamaYo · 20/10/2024 21:42

berksandbeyond · 20/10/2024 21:28

I think you and your partner should get a sofa bed in the living room and give the children a bedroom each.. why did you choose to have so many children that you can’t adequately house? Surely you realised when the 3rd baby was born this was going to happen sooner or later?

Why? How do one small person get the biggest space and two grown arse and presumably working adults get a sofa bed? What about clothes? Privacy? Comfort?

I think it’s absolutely nonsense that children’s comfort be put so far ahead of children’s. It’s ok for them to have a smaller space. Or wear second hand clothes. Or get one dinner made instead of 5 different choices. Gosh, let kids be kids, with a bit of discomfort if that is what life is like. It won’t do them much harm. Where as putting their needs so far above adults, doesn’t teach them much good, and probably will give them a false sense of entitlement. The world have princesses. 🙄

OP doesn’t love her kids less because she stays in the main bedroom with her husband whilst sorting out a feasible solution for the remaining space.

itsmeagainagain · 20/10/2024 21:43

10 year old watching TV til the early hours? No wonder the schools are in the sorry state they are... poor kids poor teachers...abysmal parenting