Lessons Learned From Living Together in a Much Smaller Space

Moving to a home that is probably half the size of our previous one has been an adjustment I think for the four kids who have been enjoying the luxurious spaciousness of a house we had originally bought for twelve. We are all learning some lessons about living in closer proximity:

Getting the laundry and the dishes washed during the daylight hours is paramount because no one is going to be able to sleep with the dishwasher or dryer running at night.  They sound as though they are right there in the room with you, no matter which room you are in.

The math (or English or art) classroom and mom's yoga studio have suddenly become one and the same and it is bound lead to uncomfortable moments for everyone involved.

When one person is washing dishes at the sink while someone else is frying bacon on the stove, it is important that everyone keep their elbows to themselves, space is tight. And unloading the dishwasher at the same time? Well that's just not happening.

When Dad is in a video conference in his office/bedroom then the door to that particular bathroom is within full view of the camera.  We are out of luck for the duration of the meeting. Plan accordingly.

There is seriously no room to not put shoes away. Or coats. Or books.

If the children insist on stretching out on the living room couch within full view of the parents' bedroom before mom gets up in the morning, they are definitely going to witness her getting up in whatever state of dress she is in.

When someone sneaks into the kitchen at midnight in search of some of that leftover pizza, dad is totally going to hear them and send them back to bed pizza-less.

Most of all, for good or bad, everyone knows where everyone else is and what they are doing most of the time.