Wisdom From Across the Room: When Two Brothers Share a Bedroom

 We are all within four feet of each other, okay?  We can hear you.  - Emanuel brother about growing up in a small house and sharing a bedroom. 'Emanuel Brothers' Chicago Tribune, April 5, 2013

Is it possible that sharing a bedroom gives kids a 'leg up' in becoming successful resilient adults?  I like to think the answer is yes.  My evidence to support that conclusion is the Emanuel brothers.

Growing up in the 1960s in Uptown Chicago, the three ridiculously successful Emanuel brothers shared a room.  Ari Emanuel has been described as the "21st century Hollywood mogul" and is the co-CEO of William Morris an entertainment and media agency.  The character of Ari Gold on HBO's show Entourage was patterned after Ari Emanuel.  Rahm Emanuel, Ari's brother, served as White House Chief of Staff for Barack Obama and is now mayor of Chicago.  The oldest brother "Zeke" Emanuel is a doctor and holds a joint appointment at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and Wharton school.

Just like the Emanuel brothers my sons, Richard and Marc, were brought up sharing a bedroom.

Richard, my oldest son, Marc, my youngest and Rick my husband.

From the first night, Marc was brought home from the hospital, the boys have slept in the same room.  Richard was then four-years-old.  He is now attending Cornell medical school and Marc is a junior at the University of Michigan.

I recently interviewed the boys about sharing a room.  My questions together with their answers are below.  Full disclosure, neither of my boys were keen on doing this interview, but I would not take no for an answer.

Question:  What was the hardest part about sharing a room?

Richard:  I heard Marc crying to be fed when he was a baby.  But I learned to put a pillow over my ears and fall asleep that way.  No big deal.

Marc:   Richard snores.

Question:  Were there any good things about sharing the same room?

Richard:  I don't think of it as good or bad, it just was.  I will say this, Marc and I are very close.  We disagree on a lot of things, but I'm his biggest defender.  Don't get between me and my brother.

Marc: If there is one person in my life I look up to, one person whose approval I want, it is my brother's.  To use a term from 'The Godfather' a movie we have watched together over and over, Richard is my 'consigliere'.  I don't want to let him down.  (Richard gives Marc some kind of complicated 'guy' hand-shake and hug.)

Question: You did not have a computer or television in your room.  Was that a problem?

Richard and Marc answer together:  No problem at all.  We had a computer and television in the basement and used that for homework and video games.  And it worked out great because we could bring our friends down there.

Question:  You both lived in dorm rooms at college.  Did sharing a room help prepare you for college dorm living?  

Richard:  Oh yeah!  My college dorm was much bigger than my room at home.  I was used to sharing my stuff with someone, so it was no big deal.  Once you share a room with your brother, you got the routine down.  Stuff doesn't bother you.

Marc:  Yeah, dorm life was nice.  I had more space, it worked out great.  I'm living in a fraternity now and like Richard said, it's no big deal.  I don't feel crowded and I don't need my own private bathroom.

Question:  Most of your friends lived in bigger houses and had their own rooms.  Did that bother you?  Did you feel deprived, make you less popular?

Richard:  What?  Are you kidding?  No one cared about the size of our house.

Marc:  I'm not even going to answer that.  What a stupid question!

At this point, both boys immediately left the room with disgusted looks on their faces.

Until next time,

Genevieve

Friendly Fridays - The Triplets

This is one of the triplets!  Three darling houses near my neighborhood all lined up in a row.  That is why I call them the triplets.

The first triplet is a gray colonial.

The brick on the lower half is painted a light gray.  The siding up above is a complimentary shade of gray.  The roof, shutters, gutters and front door are all black.  Accents are in bright brass - notice the kick plate and front light to the right.  The landscaping is perfect - pink hydrangeas next to azaleas - which look gorgeous in the spring - boxwood, pink impatiens to the left and white begonias along the front walkway.

The second triplet is a red brick colonial.

This is a classic!  Red brick on the lower half and traditional white siding up above.  Shutters and roof are black.  Notice the small windows on the front door mimic the garage door windows along the top row.  The landscaping again is lovely.  A mixture of grasses with azaleas to the right - this are a gorgeous purple in the spring.  The shrub next to the front door also blooms in the spring, but I'm not sure of its identity.  It might be a star magnolia.

Here is my favorite triplet.

A stunning little salt box!  I would take this charmer any day!  The house is brick painted white, a black roof and black shutters.  Notice the wrought iron side fence at the entry way and the brick walkway.  I also love the dormer windows and the front lantern.  As with the other two triplets, the landscaping is lovely.  Azaleas and boxwood are the foundation plantings with pachysandra for ground cover.  The tree next to the garage is wonderful serviceberry.

And now for my favorite part of my favorite triplet.

Take a look at the half-moon window above the garage. Above that is a tiny chimney with a black weather vane.  I could not get close enough to capture the weather vane, but take my word for it, the whole effect is like something out of Mary Poppins - really just like a fairy tale.

Someday I will be brave enough to ask the owners to go inside for a peek!

Genevieve

The Jewel Box® Home Book: Smaller House, Happier Life!

If we only wanted to be happy it would be easy; but we want to be happier than other people, which is almost always difficult, since we think them happier than they are.  

- Charles-Louis de Secondat, 17th/18th Century Philosopher

Hi All!  Earlier today I launched The Jewel Box® Home Book: Smaller House, Happier Life on Kickstarter.  What does that mean?  I am using Kickstarter, a funding site, to raise money to publish the Jewel Box® Home coffee table storybook about my story from big house envy to falling in love with my smaller home.  To take a look at the project click  HERE.  This link will also let you make a pledge to fund the project.  Typically people pledge small amounts ranging from $1 to $25, but please don't feel obligated.  Your good luck wishes mean so much!

By the way, Jewel Box® is already generating a little controversy.  I hear some people on the North Shore may be offended by the phrase 'Smaller House, Happier Life'. They are very happy in their bigger houses.  I really don't want to offend anyone.  Happiness can exist in any size house, I just happen to believe, that it is easier to come by in a smaller home.  Of course size is relative.  Warren Buffett's house is a Jewel Box® compared to Bill Gates house.  Also, some of my very best friends live in large houses, but they have lovely Jewel Box® touches that make their homes warm and wonderful.

I am also hearing some grumbling from tiny house fans who think Jewel Box® is too big to be considered a small house.  The lively discussions Jewel Box® is creating about house size are terrific!  I love a good debate!

Again, the link to the Jewel Box® Home Book project is HERE.  Looking forward to making this journey with you!!!

Genevieve