Even tighter than storage space is sleeping space. Right now we have Thomas going to sleep in the kids' room at 6:30, Allison going to sleep in our room at 7:00, and Jared going to sleep in the kids' room at 8:00. Then before we go to sleep we move Allison back to her crib in the kids' room and we move Thomas into a pack 'n play in the upstairs bathroom. That seems to work pretty well... at least they all stay asleep until morning. :)
Before we implemented this routine, Jared and Allison went to bed together in their room, and she would frequently keep him awake with her chattering. One night Jared stuffed his pillow under one arm, his toy rabbit under the other, and headed for the door. "I'm outta here," he declared. He went straight into the bathroom, laid down on the floor, and was soon asleep (Allison still chattering in the next room).
About a week after Jared started this bathroom sleeping habit, a friend came over to babysit while Adam and I went out. I blushed as I warned her that Jared might leave his room to go sleep in the bathroom. It does sound pretty weird when you think about it--"My four-year-old often opts to sleep on the bathroom floor." What kind of parents are we, anyway?
The next week we saw Trevor home from his mission in Russia. As he told us about the smaller, humbler apartments that are the norm in Russia, I realized that I was being unduly squeemish about Jared sleeping in the bathroom. How many families in other, less affluent countries would consider their child lucky to have a warm bathroom floor to sleep on? If they had an indoor bathroom at all. Standard of living is so relative (as Adam, who served his mission in the Bay Area, can attest). As I listened to Trevor's stories, and thought back on other missionary friends' accounts, I felt a renewed sense of gratitude. Most people in the world would probably consider our two-bedroom townhome a mini palace. We have two levels and multiple rooms, running water, electricity, a clean and safe neighborhood, and a car. Not to mention great educational opportunities and, most wonderful of all, the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Although I'm still really hoping our next home will have at least three bedrooms, I also hope I can keep my perspective and always be grateful for how temporally blessed we are--whether we are living in a beautiful new subdivision or in a basic apartment. Either way, our blessings are great.
