A New Arrangement

Evangeline and Rowan, having previously had their own rooms, now share a room.  It all started with Rowan needing 'a human' to fall asleep. Alan and I have always taught self-soothing skills to our children. To hear that Rowan needed someone else with him to fall asleep seemed very out of place for our 4 year old.  I would persist "You have your own room, your own bed, all your blankets, and loveys,..now, go to sleep."

Rowan's desire to sleep in the same room with his sister continued from the spring through the summer. The only time I didn't hear this request was when Rowan and Evangeline were tucked together in the same room at the lake house, sharing a bunk bed, or at family and friends, where they would share a room.  Those times were quiet and only otherwise filled with adorable sisterly/brotherly giggling.  Watching their success sleeping elsewhere I began to contemplate what a shared sleeping room would mean for us.


I resisted because:
1. We had the privileged of having enough house space for each child to have their own room.
2. Rowan's room was decorated all-boy and Evangeline's room was decorated all-girl.  
3. They nap and sleep on the same schedule and they might disturb or distract the other.

I was a proponent of it because:
1. They desired it.
2. I could always separate them for naps and they hardly ever bothered each other after being tucked in at night.
3. It could always be undone.
4. One stop shopping for picking up and cleaning, and delivering laundered clothes. A mamas dream.

5. One of the rooms (Rowan's) was big enough to hold both Rowan and Evangeline's bed, dresser, and nightstand/bookshelf.
6. Having each of them in one room freed up the other room.  It would serve our space needs now as a playroom.

Our 'For's outweighed our 'Against's. But, just to be sure, I also asked around seeking guidance from those that were raised sharing a room and those that facilitate a shared room for their children.  I was very interested to hear bountiful positive stories. 

So, here we go.