I'm curious how other SM's handle their SK's living in their house (meaning a home you owned before BF/SO/DH moved in with you) and what areas/locations/drawers/shelves/cabinets/rooms, etc. that you feel is necessary to allot to the SK's when they come every other weekend and the occasional week.

I own a two story, three bedroom townhome. There's no basement. My two bio daughters 13 and 7 sleep in bunk beds in one bedroom and my bio son 16 sleeps in the other in a queen bed (my old bed and just havent had any money to buy a new set of bunks or anything - moved old bed in there when my fiance moved in 2 yrs ago and brought a king sz with him for master bedroom). Obviously my SO and I sleep in master bedroom. There's also three cats and an 85 lb dog (convinced however he is a lap dog) added to the mix.

Enter my fiance and his two SK's that visit every other weekend and sometimes stay a week at a time (breaks and such).

Originally, we tried having SD15 sleep in DD7's bottom bunk and DD7 sleep on floor in sleeping bag (DD7 was fine with this and thought of it as an adventure so no freaking out on me that my bio kid was on floor, ok? She volunteered) SD13 was in her top bunk. Problem was that SD15 has developed cat allergies (which is a little weird since she lived previously w cats but in a house with little to no carpeting - she is not faking this, I know she isnt and takes Claritin D now every time she visits as a precaution and is good) and she would rather not share a space. My two cats are afraid of my fiance's dog (he's fine with them so they're just drama cats) and live in my daughters' room thus the allergy problem. No problem but SD15 is then relegated to the couch in the living room (it's her dad's couch from her old house anyway - sleeps on egg crate foam mattress pad and multiple blankets, seems fine with it).

SS12 originally was sleeping in queen bed w DD16. No big deal - did it for over a year until fighting occurred because my son is an early riser, was supposedly waking SS up on purpose to "show" him stuff like video games, You Tube videos, whatever. SS12's BM got into the act and started sniping at my fiance and my fiance got his undies in a twist. What pissed me off was his kids are allowed to stay up until whenever they want even on weekdays (like SD15 goes to bed at like 1 am on school night because she watches movies til all hours). So a fight ensued. My son has autistic spectrum and actually is very high functioning and is a very sweet, giving kid. He puts up with some eccentricities of the SKids let's say and I appreciate it. So personally I thought if my son gets up at 8 am and SS still sleeping because the kid couldnt go to bed at 10, sorry, it's not my son's fault. And frankly, considering some of the horror stories Ive heard and read about what some kids go through visiting their dad's, if BM wants to whine about her precious darling having to wake up before noon, tough $*%#.

Anyway, solution found. SS12 now sleeps on an air mattress (like three feet thick) on floor in living room. Problems went away. Everyone sleeping better. Occasionally we have to call down to the two SKids to quiet down and go to sleep but other than that, it seems to be working fine.

Long story but I was curious what everyone else does have having the Sk's there regarding their stuff and a place for it. Each SK has a drawer in one of the upstairs bedrooms that all theirs. No one touches it and for last 6 months or so, neither have they, eye roll. My fiance has guilty dad syndrome sometimes and gets rather snippy about me complaining that his son's stuff is spread all over the place. He then points out my kids' stuff. Yes, I agree, but they live here. I absolutely expect them to clean up after themselves. And his kids need to keep their stuff in check too. But I have given them these drawers and if they dont want to use them, why is this my problem?

Latest problem is that BM just got SS12 a tablet for Christmas and it's being left all over the place esp on arm on couch so it can charge at plug next to it. Uh, yeah, not comfortable with that. So I asked my fiance to have him move it somewhere safer as I will not responsible if it falls or gets broken. I get the "Well, he needs shelves." Shelves? I can barely contain the crap of 5 people in my lousy townhome. Where the heck am I supposed to put shelves just for his kids who visit on an every other weekend basis? And they are given free reign to use my kids' toys, video game systems, etc (which they are respectful of). The only thing off limits is my son's laptop.

They have their own rooms at BM's place (well, I should say her BF's place as they moved in with him) and their own stuff. I am not denying them feeling like they belong in my house but I get a little annoyed with my fiance acting like I have make sure they feel like this is their house too. Well, it is and it isnt. Sorry, but MY kids LIVE here full time.

Thoughts on what you all do to make SK's feel like they have a place in your house? Or do you not bother?