Metamorphosis Continues

It began with Bud sleeping in the guest bed in our library after a tiff with Sis.

He hasn't gone back to "their" room.

Then, touching my mother's heart, they decided to have a sleepover in her room and giggled and talked just like old times . . . until another tiff sent him back to his room.

Sigh.

Today we continued the process whereby his room looks a little less like our library and a little more like his own room.  While I cheered her on and the kids helped where they could, Mama relocated two huge bookcases with about 700 books from Bud's new room to ours.  And to do that, she put my desk in Sis's room where Bud's dresser had been, which she also moved to Bud's new room.  We've gotten the second floor back in order as best we can, though there are bags and boxes holding the contents of what used to be my desk.  And some random things in piles that need to be distributed.  We just ran out of steam.  Just watching Mama made me tired.

There are still about a thousand books to move, which are in the built in shelves in Bud's room, and the contents of a closet.  But it's good for now.  Eventually, we'll move the futon to the basement and the glider to . . . somewhere.

It's still a bit bittersweet having them separate, though it was always the plan.  Kinda one of those getting-older milestones.

I just hope the sleepover works out eventually.

I want them to stay friends.

Separate Bedrooms

I think it's official:  the kids are not roommates anymore.

After an initial spar that had Bud seeking another room, they've stayed separate.  First Sis was upset; then Bud misunderstood that he couldn't have both rooms.  Now, though, they seem to understand and like the separate rooms, even though Bud's is still our library and not quite a real bedroom.  Except it has a bed.

While I'm happy for Sis, especially, who craved her own room and its attendant privacy, and now even for Bud who is excited to have his own independent space, I worry that they won't continue the closeness that until recently was strengthened by their nightly chats.  Even though they've been getting on each other's nerves more recently, they still often make up with giggles, plans, and stories after lights out.

I imagine, though, there comes a time when male-female twins separate some from each other, perhaps sooner, or even more easily than same-gender or identical twins.  I don't know.  But we're definitely at a turning point. It was going to happen sooner or later and it's probably best to do it on their own time schedule.

I'll adjust.

Even if I'll miss having a library space.

Ready, Set, No.

After much pleading and some discussion, we agreed to allow Sis and Bud to have separate rooms.  While mainly at Sis's behest--she craves privacy and independence--Bud is slowly warming to the idea.  It's quite an undertaking, as the extra room right now contains the cat litter box and hundreds of books; yes, it's our storage room.  So the books will have to go to the basement or just go and the toys in the basement will go to the kids' respective rooms, with the appropriate furniture redistributed.  But that's a lot of up and down and carrying for two women with bad backs; we'll probably hire local movers or a teenager.  I figure it will be done in time for the kids to start third grade next year.

Last night, however, things sped up considerably.  The kiddos, exhausted from a weekend of late nights--Sis's gymnastics exhibition was Saturday night (she did well and had fun; we had pizza and Dole Whip afterwards at 10 pm!) and Goo came up for the weekend to attend--were annoying each other and grumbling to us.  So I finally asked if Bud wanted to sleep in the other room.  Surprisingly, he said yes and proceeded to get quite comfortable.

Sis was hysterical.  "I wanted him to go this summer, but I'm not ready yet."  She cried and cried that he was leaving her, even though it had been her idea originally.  Poor child, so upset (and exhausted.)  Bud eventually went in to talk to her, asking if this meant that she didn't want him to move out this summer.  We didn't hear the answer (but believe she said, no, she still wanted him to move.)  But the drama ended, last night anyway, when Bud loaned Sis his penguin Tango to sleep with.

We had always worried that Bud was going to feel hurt by the transition and were unprepared for Sis's hurt feelings last night.  We'll have to discuss it tonight, see if we can resolve it some, because Bud wants to sleep in the other room again tonight.  And Sis doesn't want him to.  Twins--don't want to be together, won't separate.