Recently, with the goal of fraternity and an office/guest room, we moved our boys into the same bedroom. Results so far have been varied.
In addition to late night frat boy-style renditions of the Hokey Pokey, and discussions about booger and jelly sandwiches, we now have battles of hockey-like proportion over whether the bedroom door should be open a quarter of an inch or not at all, and the correct increment of blinding brightness on the dimmer switch. Both boys want the room lit like an airport while sleeping, just not the same airport. We also have an extra early waker, due to unfamiliar surroundings, rousing his brother, who formerly slept until a civilized eight a.m.
As a result the entire family is so tired that yesterday’s morning activity was “Superheroes Who Are Really Sleepy And Need To Rest On The Floor” (created by my four-year old – I may have to patent this one) and the afternoon activity was gum chewing. You can amuse your kids for hours if you can blow a big, sticky bubble. Messy, but effective.
I’m awfully tempted to undo the switch to one bedroom, but I’m reminding myself that all transitions with kids are difficult at first, but ultimately worth the effort – weaning, sleeping through the night, and starting pre-school all seemed like a bucket-load of trouble to begin with. This change will ultimately pay off too.
It will, won’t it?
