Kathy has a cousin, Mimi, and she is coming all the way from Paris, France to spend Thanksgiving at Kathy’s house.

Her mom told Kathy and her younger sister, Annie and her brother, Orrie, at breakfast. Her mom said, “Kathy, since you have the largest bedroom, Mimi will stay in your room while she is here.” Kathy answered, “Orrie has a bigger room than I do. Why can’t she bunk with him?”

“Kathy, you know the answer to that,” said her mom. “Orrie uses a wheelchair and needs more space to turn and such.” Annie chimed in by saying. “Besides, Orrie’s a boy and Mimi’s a girl.”

Then Orrie joined the conversation by asking, “Kathy, why don’t you want Mimi in your room? She was here last year, for winter break and you two got along real well.”

Kathy answered, “I just  don’t want her touching my stuff. Do I have to share closet space and give one of my drawers for her clothes? If she messes up the room, do I have to clean up after her? Do I have to take her with me when I go out to play?”

“Just because you will share your room doesn’t mean you have to be responsible for Mimi while she is here.You weren’t last year. Why should this year be any different?” said her mom. Then she asked, “Orrie, Annie, how will you make your cousin feel welcome?” Orrie volunteered to take Mimi to the community center programs and to play computer games, and other board games with her. Annie offered to shoot hoops with her and be her partner when they went to cooking club.

‘Kathy,” said mom, “next year, when we visit with her family in France, what if she doesn’t want you in her room or touching her things; how will you feel?” Kathy thought a moment and said,  “I’ll feel like she doesn’t want me around. OK, I will clear out a a part of my closet where she can hang her clothes and store her shoes.”

Mom said, “Thank you Kathy, I know sharing space is hard to do when you are used to having a room to yourself, but it is only for a short time. So, Kathy what will make you feel better about Mimi staying in your room?” Kathy answered, “Can I put my new doll away for safekeeping? Can I ask Mimi to ask before she starts playing with my toys? “Can I ask her to put them back when she is finished playing?”

“Hmmm,” said Kathy’s mom. “I think it would be okay to put your new doll away for safekeeping. I also think it is also okay to ask Mimi to put toys away when she is finished playing with them, but, it doesn’t sound very sharing of you to make Mimi ask for permission every time she wants to play with one of your toys.”

What do you think boys and girls? What would you want to do if you had to share your room for a couple of days?