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Housekeeping

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Original poster

3 bed house-lone parent here-would you consider giving up your big bedroom for ds & decamping to box room?

18 replies

trinni · 18/08/2010 23:26

Myself & 2 dc who are 12 & 10.

Dd has a reasonably large room, as do I.

Ds has little box room and I'm wondering, shall I swap with him?

Would you as a single parent with no partner? It makes sense I think.

OP posts:

Tortoise · 18/08/2010 23:29

Yes i would, in fact i gave up my bedroom. Now sleep on the sofa! Not ideal though it has helped the situation.
I have 4 DC in a 3 bed house.

cece · 18/08/2010 23:29

No I wouldn't. What if you do get a partner. Making him move back would really put his nose out. PLus you are the adult and you are the one payiing the rent. Would you really want to sleep in a single bed?!

Original poster

trinni · 18/08/2010 23:34

Well actually I've just ousted a long-term partner and am not planning on having another anytime soon.

My only real concern is adjusting to sleeping in a single bed.

I'm thinking I can make it cosy and nice?

OP posts:

Rindercella · 18/08/2010 23:36

No I wouldn't. Is there any way you could reconfigure the rooms so that your two DC have more equal room?

Original poster

trinni · 18/08/2010 23:40

Rindercella, believe it or not the rooms have already been reconfigured! I did this with a nursery in mind and a house move in the future...which never happened!

So now we have to make the best of it and it seems fair that I make the sacrifice. Poor ds can't swing a cat in his room.

OP posts:

Rindercella · 18/08/2010 23:42

So if DS can't swing a cat in the room, what are you going to be able to swing?? I think this needs further thought...

auntilin · 18/08/2010 23:43

Yes i would, & have when mine were small. They need rooms to have friends etc,
we can have livingroom.
Good luck.

colditz · 18/08/2010 23:45

My mother did for my brother and sister, and although mine share a room, they share the large bedroom in my house and I have the poky little hellhole smaller.

booyhoo · 18/08/2010 23:49

i would yes.

if you are sure you wont be moving any partners in during the next few years.

could you maybe consider and attic conversion, funds allowing of course, i know i couldn't as ours is rented.

Checkmate · 18/08/2010 23:49

Yes, either have box room as you have living room to hang out in, or give him some downstairs space to store toys and play with friends...

I'd opt for former, personally.

Find somewhere outside the room to store you clothes (airing cupboard? space on landing for a wardrobe?). Keep toiletries and make up/hairbrush/jewelry in bathroom. Then, a small (4ft) double may fit in??

lifeas3plus1 · 18/08/2010 23:50

My friends parents gave up the bedrooms for them, 2 boy's in 1 room, the DD's each had their own room.

The parents slept on a sofa bed in the lounge.

When we move to be closer to DSS, if there's any reason we can't get a 3 bed straight away then dp and I will do the sofa bed in the lounge so our 2 Ds's can share a room and older Dss gets his own room when he's with us.

lifeas3plus1 · 18/08/2010 23:52

Or another thought.

Have you got a seperate dining room?

If you did you could always make that into a bedroom and put a small (foldaway?) table in the kitchen/lounge?

Original poster

trinni · 18/08/2010 23:56

I think it's a definite yes then.

There's decent enough storage in the tiny room for me, it's the moving about space he really needs at his age and being able to have a nice sized room to take friends up to play.

I'll start with the planning soon - thanks all for helping in my decision!

OP posts:

booyhoo · 18/08/2010 23:56

yes dining room is a good idea.

shimmerysilverglitter · 19/08/2010 00:02

I have done this. Ds has the big bedroom, me and dd currently in the smaller one. In a month or two I will re-decorate this room and she will have it for herself and I will buy a pull out bed from Ikea for the living room and sleep in there. It is not ideal but what can you do? I am not massively put out by it though as I am going to get a desk and book cases as well as I am doing an OU degree and need space to study. I feel I can justify this in the living room now as I am giving up having a bedroom so dc can have one each.

As for new partners?....meh.

TonariNoTotoro · 19/08/2010 00:07

Absolutely I would. You are a single parent and you (I'm guessing) only sleep and dress in your room.

To your 12 & 10 yo their rooms are their world, and yes, I would do what you're suggesting.

shimmerysilverglitter · 19/08/2010 00:13

Thats so true Tonari, I am in my room for about 10 minutes during the day apart from sleeping. It just stands empty all day. Ds on the other hand is in his room all the time.

booyhoo · 19/08/2010 00:21

i think it does make sense. some people would begrudge giving a larger room to a child because they would see it as a pecking order sort of thing but to me it is just logical. i don't use my room at all during the day, my cats do but they could just as easily sleep in a smaller room. it makes sense that dcs are able to have friends in their rooms to play, i bring my friends to the living room not my bedroom.

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