Step siblings sharing a room

[Roomsharing]

are there any guidelines around step siblings sharing rooms? What are your views on 7 year old and 16 year old (same sex/ gender) step siblings sharing a room?

I know people can’t magic up rooms from nowhere but this arrangement isn’t great and comes from blending families. Maybe more thought should be made before putting children together who potentially have nothing in common.

I shared with my DSIS until 14 years old. The difference I see here is this is a blended family. As the previous posters says, these things should be thought about before moving the DCs in together.

maybe it was thought about and most people think well siblings share ect and because they weren't in the whole "poor sc "mode they thought this was perfectly reasonable and it wouldn't land anyone in therapy.

I don't think the 16yo is really being unreasonable- either they're kicked out of their room in the evening or have to go to bed at the same time as a 7yo. A lot of their friends will likely be gaming in the evenings, so it's affecting their social time, too.

Obviously it's not reasonable for the 7yo either, but I don't think the answer is to make the 16yo miserable and likely to resent their step sibling more.

I assume there's no other space in the house, but could they get a sofa bed for the living space where e.g. the 7yo could sleep? Is it just the 16yo and the 7yo or are there other children?

Lol my post got deleted, not a surprise, there's someone who I believe always reports me where possible. I've asked MNHQ to explain how it broke talk guidelines as I don't know how it did.

In the meantime, I'm going to make my point in a different and hopefully non-deletable way.

You don't have to be in "poor SC mode" to see how a 7 year and 16 year old sharing a room could be problematic. It is very, very obvious. A 16 year old is nearly an adult, a 7 year old is "very much a young child. They are going to have different bedtimes and sleep and privacy requirements.

So the issue here is the age difference, not that one is a step-child.

It might not be practically feasible to give them their own rooms, but this arrangement is not working as neither the 7 year old nor the 16 year old's prime needs are met. The 7 year old needs to be able to sleep, and the 16 year old needs privacy and a place where he can game without disturbing the 7 year old.

I wouldn't like this either OP and I feel for your son and his step-brother. Definitely worth raising with your ex.

it you read my comment its not my house where the kids are sharing its DSS sharing with his half brother at his mums. His mum is a single parent ( kicked out her abusive prick of a husband thank god) who is a part time cleaner on benefits. Where exactly should she get the money to just buy/ rent a bigger house. She is currently applying for council properties and they do not provide separate rooms for same sex siblings.
Ita nice that you are in a financial position to just move but most aren't and with the current crisis the risk of homelessness is going to go through the roof. I don't think 2 kids sharing is the end of the world. And I shared with my sister until we were comfortably in our teens. Im not damaged by it.

However as I said previously the age gap and therfore exposure to adult content is something that needs to be addressed.

Neither child is at fault in wanting to either play games in their room or to go to sleep in their room.

The issue is with the DF of both children who needs to make it work better. If your DS is there EOW and once during the week - lot of sleep to lose but likewise a lot of time to expect the elder child to not do what they want.

Raise with DF that there is an issue and he needs a solution tht keeps both his children happy.