Should Brother and Sister Share a Bedroom?

EmeraldFields · 03-03-09, 02:55

Quote:

From birth through high school, my sister and I shared a bedroom while our brother enjoyed his own room down the hall. We resented his good fortune but never questioned the idea that he, as a boy, should not be sharing a room with us. Brothers and sisters just don't, right?

Well, sometimes limited space requires that they do. When family members outnumber bedrooms and the children are not of the same sex, what choice does a parent have other than to pair up a brother and sister in the same room? That situation is the topic of an interesting debate going on over at Cafe Mom and it is clear that there is no middle ground when it comes to opinions on the subject. While some feel it is no big deal, most are convinced that it is the worst idea ever.

Those who object to the idea of co-ed sleeping arrangements beyond the early years cite fears of raging hormones and natural curiosity getting the better of a brother and sister. While I agree that the situation would probably be awkward and uncomfortable for everyone involved, the idea that a parent who does this is "asking for trouble" seems far-fetched.

Also, according to some, such sleeping arrangements are actually illegal in some states. Put a brother and sister in the same room after a certain age and you risk a visit from CPS! I can't find any verification of that particular claim, but many of the parents participating in the discussion clearly believe it to be true.

The bottom line is this: In a perfect world, every child would have his or her own room and the privacy that goes along with it. But few of us live in a perfect world and therefore must make accommodations for our particular situation

Source

What's your opinion?

Feather Duster · 03-03-09, 02:58

No, girls are different from boys, and boys are different from girls.

IMO:

S-S
and
B-B

freeze10108 · 03-03-09, 03:02

Well, I'm not against it, but I don't think it's a very good solution either. The brother would have to deal with having all sorts of girly things that she may have lying around, and the sister would have to deal with boyish things lying around. Besides that, what if one or the other wanted to hang up a bedroom poster, for example: the girl wants to hang up a picture of Zac Efron what would the boy think? Or, if the boy wanted to put up a picture of Pamela Anderson, would the sister object?

tranniversary119 · 03-03-09, 03:05

No, I think it's best a girl has her own room as does a boy-Seperate from each other. Privacy anyone? I mean I can see if your still in the single digits but 10+ I don't agree with.

Laurencarter · 03-03-09, 03:08

I think that it all depends on their personalities. And that if they like the same stuff it could work.

madderakka · 03-03-09, 03:08

It's not the ideal situation, but I don't see anything horribly wrong with it. My college roomie shared a room with her brother until she went to college because their family had a 2 bedroom apartment.

spikejones · 03-03-09, 03:22

my younger sister and I shared a bedroom until about the age that I hit puberty. I tried having my own room before then, but I got scared of being alone when I was used to having my little sister to talk to at night - so I moved back into the room with her most of the nights. The other room was still "mine" but I didn't sleep much in it for a few months.

rowanlim · 03-03-09, 05:54

I think when they reach puberty it's better if they sleep separately.

Not sure about everywhere else, but here it's kinda like the training that your sister's a she & your brother's a he, & it's inappropriate for the two of you to sleep together.

Plus there are reports of incest (rape/sex), molest etc which makes us more wary.

EscondeR · 03-03-09, 06:04

There is no ultimate solution for this problem IMO. Too many dependencies, can't be solved with undefined variables

Must judge every exact case in details: ability to provide privacy, personality, education, etc.

Draco · 03-03-09, 06:11

I think it doesn't matter. Privacy is not always something you can have.

03-03-09, 03:02	#3
freeze10108 Archaeologist Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Cocoon Posts: 1,044	Well, I'm not against it, but I don't think it's a very good solution either. The brother would have to deal with having all sorts of girly things that she may have lying around, and the sister would have to deal with boyish things lying around. Besides that, what if one or the other wanted to hang up a bedroom poster, for example: the girl wants to hang up a picture of Zac Efron what would the boy think? Or, if the boy wanted to put up a picture of Pamela Anderson, would the sister object? __________________ "FEED ME A STRAY CAT"

03-03-09, 03:08	#5
Laurencarter Archaeologist Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: South Africa Posts: 1,153	I think that it all depends on their personalities. And that if they like the same stuff it could work. __________________ I like my coffee black Just like my metal

03-03-09, 03:08	#6
madderakka Explorer Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 680	It's not the ideal situation, but I don't see anything horribly wrong with it. My college roomie shared a room with her brother until she went to college because their family had a 2 bedroom apartment. __________________ I think we have a situation. The kind you need to shoot at.

03-03-09, 03:22	#7
spikejones Tomb Raider Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Perfect World Posts: 10,814	my younger sister and I shared a bedroom until about the age that I hit puberty. I tried having my own room before then, but I got scared of being alone when I was used to having my little sister to talk to at night - so I moved back into the room with her most of the nights. The other room was still "mine" but I didn't sleep much in it for a few months. __________________ Anyone can play a guitar, but only one with real talent can speak to the masses

03-03-09, 05:54	#8
rowanlim Legend Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Malaysia Posts: 35,786	I think when they reach puberty it's better if they sleep separately. Not sure about everywhere else, but here it's kinda like the training that your sister's a she & your brother's a he, & it's inappropriate for the two of you to sleep together. Plus there are reports of incest (rape/sex), molest etc which makes us more wary. __________________ The earth is only a little dust under our feet

03-03-09, 02:58	#2
Feather Duster Professor Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 2,649	No, girls are different from boys, and boys are different from girls. IMO: S-S and B-B

03-03-09, 03:05	#4
tranniversary119 Relic Hunter Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 8,725	No, I think it's best a girl has her own room as does a boy-Seperate from each other. Privacy anyone? I mean I can see if your still in the single digits but 10+ I don't agree with.

03-03-09, 06:04	#9
EscondeR Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Russia Posts: 31,961	There is no ultimate solution for this problem IMO. Too many dependencies, can't be solved with undefined variables Must judge every exact case in details: ability to provide privacy, personality, education, etc. __________________ The Truth Is Out There...

03-03-09, 06:11	#10
Draco Tomb Raider Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Kenworth T600, somewhere between here and there. Posts: 20,068	I think it doesn't matter. Privacy is not always something you can have. __________________ ~If Darwin, Einstein, and Roosevelt married their cousins, what would you do?