Stories Plus

I don’t remember when I first thought of the perfect place, but it’s been the same for many years. I would love a cozy two-story home with a balcony or porch and a basement. I want enough space for my future children to run and play and plenty of kitchen space for cooking and guests.

The ground floor holds the kitchen, living room, dining room, office, one bathroom, and maybe a bedroom. I picture wood floors in my living and dining space. The kitchen can be either tile or wood, it doesn’t really matter. The walls would either be a light neutral brown or a warm red. Growing up with my mother, I have always associated the kitchen with chicken decor which I know my girlfriend would love. She loves cats and chickens. I picture a wooden floor or a tight-knit light-gray carpet in the office with beige walls. There would be at least two desks for my partner and me. We’d have a sort of bookshelf or organizer to display our published pieces as well as hold any books we may need and our children’s textbooks for at-home use. I also plan to have a couple of bean-bag chairs for comfortable reading and a workspace for the children. As someone with ADHD my girlfriend and I need a designated workspace to get anything done which is why it is so important to have an office. If there is a bedroom on the ground floor, it will be the guest room so our visitors won’t have to share a bathroom with the children.

The second floor will hold the bedrooms and one, maybe two, bathrooms. One will be in the hall, but possibly one half-bathroom for the master bedroom. They will be in charge of cleaning their bathroom which we will have to monitor and help to teach them, but independence and learning to balance cleaning your space as well as the rest of your life is important! The children get to figure out how to decorate their room for the most part (depending on their age). If they share a room though, we’ll have to work that out. The hallway will be lined with family photos of us and our children to remind us of the good times.

The basement will mostly be a playroom for the kids. The laundry room will be tucked in a corner somewhere. We’ll have bins for their toys and little play tables as well as any family board games. The basement will be the kids’ cozy play space away from their mothers where they can host their own movie and game nights and be their loud wild selves. That is also the best place to banish the children if there is a baby sleeping in the house and it’s too cold or wet to go outside. I would also love to have a designated room full of legos. The difficult contructed piece like the Hogwarts castle or whatever will sit on shelves but the random pieces are for the children to do whatever they want. However, only children old enough to know eating legos is a bad idea can go in without adult supervision. The younger ones can play with the Lego Duplos when us parents aren’t around.

Of course, the attic would be used for any storage we need like out of season clothing and holiday decorations. I would also really like a porch swing and some playground equipment in the backyard! A swingset, a trampoline, a little clubhouse for children only, and my girlfriend really wants a tire swing! I would like to have a space for a pool but I could like without one. We can always get a membership somewhere or find a community with a pool. As long as they allow my girlfriend to have her chickens, we’re good.