The Boys' Room

My married daughter's recent family project could be labeled: Consolidate & Divide. Consolidate, meaning that her two boys will share a room rather than have separate rooms. Divide meaning there will be two unique bedrooms. One dubbed "The Boys' Room," and the other, "The Girls' Room." Baby Sister will share her room with the other female in the house, Mommy. The two boys and Daddy will share the other room. And then the third bedroom is the master bedroom, for Mommy's and Daddy's clothing and such, and maybe for sleeping, too.

The addition of Baby Sister to the family and into the house 6 months ago created the need for The Girls' Room. No girls are allowed in The Boys' Room. They steal and ruin toys.

Behind-the-scenes thought, discussion, and communication for the room changes have been in the works for weeks. Big Brother isn't losing his private bedroom, he is gaining a Boys' Room. Boys' Room #1 and Boys' Room #2 would have been way too complicated. So, yes, just one Boys' Room. Talk of new sheet purchases for the boys' beds makes the idea of room sharing exciting. 

In The Boys' Room, Younger Brother will sleep in his crib for a while longer. Until he adjusts to room-sharing. And down the road, new sheets. Woot woot. They will be a visual for all to see. The Boys' Room. A club. The powerful Avengers theme will definitely scream BOYS' ROOM. 

The weekend for the big experiment arrives, Big Brother helped to move 2-year-old brother's crib into The Boys' Room. Mom and Dad finally exclaim, "It's bedtime!" 

Big brother and Younger Brother climb the stairway together. The drill has been thoroughly explained, so Big Brother understands everything. Backwards and forwards. He rehearses it aloud as they climb the steps. "We're going to The Boys' Room. Cool!"

Younger brother is only 2 years old and doesn't quite get the concept. All he knows is that for some reason his crib is in brother's room. Maybe it is for... one.big.night.of.party!

Mommy and Daddy read bedtime stories and give goodnight kisses, which leads to, "It's bedtime in The Boys' Room. For Boys' Only. We love you. Close your eyes and sleep tight."

Immediately, younger brother begins to giggle. Big Brother is staying! It is a party! As the two lay on their respective mattresses, Younger Brother giggles and Big Brother giggles back. And younger brother's giggles continue.

Big Brother has a responsibility. To let Mom and Dad know what's going on. Shuffle, shuffle, shuffle through the hallway, pitter, patter down the steps, and shuffle, shuffle into the living room. "Brother isn't asleep yet. He keeps giggling."

"That's alright. Just give him time. Hopefully he'll fall asleep soon. Goodnight, sweetie."

"Night, Mommy and Daddy."

Back up the stairs Big Brother goes. And it won't be his last visit to the living room. Additional play-by-plays occur over the next hour. Those play-by-plays are an important part of the room-share agreement. Then, finally, it is quiet in The Boys Room. All night long it is peaceful. Ahhhh.

Tweaking rules about sharing Legos will come. And other room-sharing rules. One night down, and a childhood to go.