Room allocation: WWYD?

[Tw1gl3t]

Hello, Why isn't there a "Bad Housekeeping" topic? I wouldn't feel so self-conscious there

We live in a small two bed-maisonette, there's OH, Self and DS2 who's now 3.6....
Currently DS2 has a toddler bed on our room. The smaller room is being used a boxroom for a number of reasons.

1. It's damp and we can't afford the repairs.
2. I'm waiting for DS1 to have the time to come and get all the stuff he left behind when he moved out (DS1 is 24, I'm not a cruel heartless parent, I did not throw him out, he left before DS2 was born).
3. I never have any time at home without OH who has bad asthma and genuinely can't help with the early stages of the massive clean-out that this room needs, and If DS2 is at nursery, then I'm at work. Housework of any type is almost impossible, with DS2 around. (This a non-negotiable fact). He would want to "help" and I know that there are pins and needles on the floor as well as a box of broken baubles (we had a bit of an avalanche in there).

So, we've reached the stage where he needs his own space.... and his own toy storage, and TBH I'd like some privacy again. If housework is difficult in this situation you can imagine how often we've managed any erm, "adult time". [Hmm]

I'm begininning to think that It would be better if DS2 had the bigger room as a combined bedroom/play room and that we could have the smaller room as all we need is bed and storage space... we have the living room as our play area after all. And I'd like not to fall over the damned ELC castle and the Brio traintrack etc. when they're out.

Is the room re-allocation a completely nutzo idea? Has anyone contemplated it? Or am I just trying to make DS1 feel that we have not replaced him with DS2?

Answers on a postcode card please to:
Conflicted @ Twiglet Towers

I think its a good idea other. But you do need to sort out the damp in the smaller room, whoever has it, will not be good for your DP with his asthma.

Oh and give DS1a kick up th ebackside to come and get his stuff, you clearly dont have room to store it...

I don't think there is any problem with you and OH having the smaller room. The bedroom for grownups is for sleeping and 'nudge nudge wink wink', it's not your 'play room' as you say.
In regards to your other points, if the maisonette is rented then the landlord has responsibility to sort the damp out. If you own it then what is causing the damp? Is it lack of ventilation, a leak from above? Some problems are not that difficult to sort out.
Tell DSI he has a deadline to collect his stuff - 1 week, 2 weeks - and whatever is not gone by then will be skipped/at charity shop. He is 24, not a baby!
If OH cannot help sort the room out and you can only do it when DS2 is home then give OH the task of entertaining DS2 whilst you sort the room out, or, do it when DS2 is asleep.

Tge only thing I would say is tgat it is unrealistic to think ds2 won't have toys in the living room, unless you only let him out of his room to eat.

I do agree that your DS will still have toys in the main room, kids like to play where adults are, so its worth getting some storage for his toys in there too.

Thank you! The maisonette is ours not rented, and we have the top two floors of a three floor building... the 2nd bedroom is at the very top and has a suspicious damp patch at the join of the integral (concrete) gutter. I clearly didn't tank it properly when I hired some scaffolding to re-tank it about 8 years ago. There's no money for scaffolding hire at the moment, and I certainly couldn't afford someone to do it for me. (It's too high for a ladder).

DS2 has an enormous coffee--table/chest for his toys n the living room, but they're overflowing now and something must be done.... I agree it's unrealistic to not have any toys downstairs... but it would be nice to have most of them tucked away safely upstairs......