How do you like sharing a room with someone?

Ever have to share your room with another relative, like your cousin or brother?

If you did, or you currently do right now, tell me; do you like sharing a room with someone? Any good tips for how to deal with this kind of living situation?

As for me, I've been forced to share a room with my own Father after my Aunt moved in and took my room. (Not borrowed, took until the day she dies basically) At first, I thought I'd get used to it since this is my Dad I'm sharing a room with. We've had our ups and downs, but I felt that maybe this'll be a good opportunity for us. Maybe it won't be so bad, maybe we'll do more together because of the situation and become closer. But oh boy, was I wrong. He consistently is smoking cigs about every 20 minutes (even while I sleep), always wakes up at 5:30 or 6 to make coffee, never seeks to spend additional quality time together despite sharing a room, Turns the AC off around 3 in the morning EVERY SINGLE MORNING, and always throws in my face how "messy I am". (I'll eat something, then go to the bathroom, and come back to the room with him shaking his head calling me lazy as he throws out what I just finished) I didn't think sharing a room with somebody would be this difficult and stressful, I kid you not. The worst part is, if I get upset about having such little privacy or time to myself, I get called selfish and spoiled. Granted, I'm 18 and fresh out of high school. Still, I'm going to college, and doing everything I need to in life. Meanwhile, my Aunt isn't even trying to look for work. I thought sharing a room would get easier as time went on, but it honestly has proven to be quite the opposite.

I used to share a room with my brother growing up and it wasn't anywhere near this kind of bad. Is there any helpful advice anyone can give? Does it have to get worse in order to get better?

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Miram · 31-35, F

Move out as soon as possible. Try to ignore him as much as you can and spend as much time as you can in outside activities.

Your father is an irresponsible man and unfit father, for not considering the health risks of secondhand smoking .

TheMasterMan1 · 22-25, M

@Miram Much easier said than done. I wouldn't go as far as to call him unfit for a Father, though. I don't have a Mom, so he's basically the only person who goes out to pay the bills, work, go shopping, and does most of the essential household work. So because of that, to him, nobody has the room to create any arguments or disputes against him. One thing I do agree with however, is the health risks of secondhand smoking. I don't think my Dad really considers or believes in those risks at all before busting open a new pack of cigs. It gives me a headache just smelling the nicotine and tobacco. Even the cats we have will sit like 10-20 feet away from him when he lights up a new cig. But he's been smoking since he was 12 or 13, so for me to try and tell him not to smoke is pretty dumb at this point.

Don't get me wrong, the things he does while sharing a room truly do annoy me, as well as heavily effects my way of life atm, but I also love my Father, too. I don't seek to harm our relationship any more than it already is. Because when I first started sharing the room, I would go out basically every day for the whole week, leaving introverted relax-times for the weekend since those were the only days my Dad would work. After about a month of this or so, my Dad began to complain, thinking I was making my friends more of a priority than family or something along those lines. Now that it's Summer, finding that private time to relax is 100x harder because I usually find myself busy on the weekends and more free during the week now. It's awful. But I do have some hope that there's a bright light at the end of this tunnel.

Miram · 31-35, F

@TheMasterMan1 You are loving and grateful son. I don't expect people's children to turn against them just because I type few words online. But his act is all it takes for me to lose respect for any parent. He is obliged to provide for you legally. He chose to bring you to this life.

I hope you find a way out as soon as possible.

TheMasterMan1 · 22-25, M

@Miram I would hope not! I do see what you mean, however. And yeah, you're right, he is still technically obliged to provide for me while I'm still in School. Thank you for the kind words though, it really is appreciated.