Well, two things of note for me, one, the coat enabling from a couple of weeks ago finally kicked in and I ordered this duffle coat. I got black, even though I have two other black coats and a black leather jacket (I see Jill already raising an eyebrow and saying "Never too much black," with which I agree, actually.) I'm happy, because I've wanted a duffle coat for ages and now I'll be living somewhere I can actually wear one for more than two days out of the year.

Leading me to thing two of note, which is after much back and forth, post-inspection and the owners being just the teensiest bit cheap, we've settled on a final price for the house. Closing will be around Dec. 12th and we'll be moving early/mid-January.

MEEP!

I'm so glad, Connie.

Re: kids sleeping. I don't remember much before 4 or 5, but at that point (at the latest) my parents were adamant about me sleeping in my own room. As far as how they made that work goes, well, I have no idea. I remember having nightmares, running into their room, and having Mom or Dad carry me back and staying with me until I fell asleep again.

Until I was in my 30s I had no idea that parents with more than one bedroom slept in the same room as their kids in the US. It was more of a "huh" revelation than anything—it just hadn't crossed my mind that that would happen.

I have no memory of sleeping in my parents' bed. I suspect my dad wouldn't have gone for it. However, I used to sneak into their room in the middle of the night because they had an air conditioner, and I did not.

I can't remember ever sleeping in my parents' bed. Sometimes when I had a nightmare and went into my parents' room because I was scared, my mom would come lie down in my bed with me until I fell back asleep. I always had a few toys and books by my bed, and if I woke up in the middle of the night for no reason, I'd play or read quietly until I was tired enough to go back to sleep. (My mom says my sister started sleeping through the night at about six months old, and the first time I slept through the night was in kindergarten.)

Recovery ~ma for the hubby, Connie.

Skipped bunches, so hugs for y'all.

Hil, I can't even imagine how frustrating this advisor situation has been for you. I don't think he understands his role at all.

The boys slept with us until they didn't want to anymore. We had a king bed with a single bed at our feet and a crib pushed up against the side. Then we went through a period that lasted years of musical beds where I would need a good night's sleep and crash in one of the kid beds, or this one or that was on a couch. On any given night the 4 of us would be found in a different configuration of rooms. We have settled into our own rooms pretty much at this point, although the couches call our names from time to time.

The exception is now when we travel and can't or don't get 2 rooms for some reason we will sleep me and son Brendon together and Dad and Bobby together. It is a relative size decision. Sleeping head to foot for space purposes too.

The sleeping together when they were babies was a simple matter of convenience for nursing. Then they didn't want to leave and we didn't really mind. It doesn't really last very long since all kids do want to be independent at some point in time.

We never slept in our parents bedroom and my mother thought it was a Very Bad Plan that we let the kids sleep with us. I told her they would get over the urge, and they did.

I remember the great comfort of climbing into my parents bed during bad thunderstorms or, very rarely, after bad nightmares. It was rare, but it was nice to be able to.

I remember the great comfort of climbing into my parents bed during bad thunderstorms or, very rarely, after bad nightmares. It was rare, but it was nice to be able to.

This was me, too. It was a treat, though, nothing I did normally. I just feel badly for Hec and JZ because it's so hard to have such limited options, space-wise. I still think I would end up sleeping in the living room if it were me, but what do I know? I am sprogless and therefore am talking out of my ass.

Connie, what a relief! Much healing ~ma to your hubby.

Hil, I wish I had something to say to help. I'll just add my HULK SMASH annoyance to everyone else's and remind you that at least you won't have to deal with this jerk forever.

Edited for odd cut/paste issues.

People are having swine flu parties. Like chicken pox parties for kids, except that everyone tries to get swine flu. [link]

Oh, and thanks for the encouragement and commiseration, everyone.