About a year and a half ago we decided a major overhaul of personal space was in order. The kids – lovely, delightful, enchanting creatures that they are – were getting on each other’s nerves, especially at bedtime when everyone was raw from a long day. They needed space to get away from one another…not just in the evenings, but to take a break anytime there was a need.
And truth be told, BrightSide and I had pretty much hit the wall when it came to mediating arguments over whose foot touched whose in the bathroom. Are you kidding me? You guys are in fifth and sixth grade!! Jesus, take the wheel.
Bear let T-man choose whether to move upstairs to the bonus room or stay put in their hallway, taking over both rooms downstairs. He chose the latter, changing her bedroom into a mini man cave for a teen. We call it the game room.
T-man’s game room is one of his design. He saved up his own money to buy a gaming system (because cruel parents who refuse to spend money on video games, obvs) and we put a tv in there. I found gaming chairs on a Black Friday sale that can pump out volume at a sweet-Jesus-is-the-paint-peeling-off-the-walls-in-there level, and we added a futon so he’d have a couch along with the option to stretch out.
All that is well and good, but what he really has is a space that’s entirely T-man’s. He is in his element when he’s gaming online with a friend from school and they’re screaming about – well, I have no idea what they’re screaming about, but it’s something super exciting to him. The game room is a great spot when his friends come over, a safe space to hang with the guys, watching movies or YouTube or gaming and such.
We all need our space, and T-man’s especially lucky to have one to call his own.
My kids have never fought about space. I dunno, I guess they’re into it. But, I’ve heard my nephews do it A LOT. I’m the one who needs a space literally and figuratively. I need a place where I’m alone and it’s quiet for a while. The bathtub is often that place, sometimes the car… I hate that I need space… I think it hurts my whole family’s feelings, even the other introvert.
I love the comment — (because cruel parents who refuse to spend money on video games, obvs) SAME. Same, same, same. Sassy’s 15.5 and she’s tryin to find a job, which I consider “Another job well done” on our part. lol
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Part of it might be the teen/tween boy/girl combo. Plus one’s an introvert and the other’s not, so bumping heads there. I was surprised, though — it turns out even the extrovert is happier having her own space to retreat to.
And yes, kudos on the job seeker. Good job, mama.
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Thank you!
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This sounds really great. I think I’m coming over. I’m pretty sure I need some time in T-Man’d cave…
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Don’t we all!! 😉
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Wouldn’t it be great if we all had our own “me-cave”? Right now my spot is the kitchen. I think I can do better though. Way to go to T-man for saving up to buy his own console. What did he get? I really like the gaming chair!
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He bought an xBox 360 from GameStop. A year later he’d saved enough to buy a PS one, so now he’s got both in there.
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