When I was a child I wanted my room to be a certain way. I had dreams of a four post canopy bed with soft pink bedding and fluffy pillows with lacy covers. I wanted furniture that matched, and I wanted my furniture to be painted pink with flowers. I imagined big stuffed animals, a whimsical toy box and a rocking horse for me to ride. I hoped for all of these things.



Don't get me wrong. I had a cute bedroom when I was a child. It's just that I dreamed of having a room like the rich kids had. Forty years ago, all of the things I dreamed of for my dream bedroom were hard to come by. They were all specialty items that had a big price tag attached to them. Occasionally, I'd receive one of the goodies on my bedroom wish list, but it was a big deal. I knew my big dream bedroom was an unreachable dream.

Today what you can do with a child's bedroom has been revolutionized. Your ordinary family can give a little boy or girl a bedroom with all the bells and whistles. The bedroom I dreamed of as a child has become a dream come true for today's kids.

I redecorated my kids' rooms this summer. It was a big endeavor, but it was very exciting. Every time I went to the store I'd come home with something new to match our bedroom projects. Today, my daughter's room has pink walls, pink furniture and all the photographs on the walls have pink frames. The bed has a dust ruffle that matches the bedspread and the wall boarder. Her room is "all girl." My sons' room is just as fun. An orange and blue color scheme matches my sons' enthusiasm for Detroit Tiger baseball. They have furniture that's just their size, too. A favorite piece is a kid sized recliner that sits next to a big basket of appealing library books. I made curtains to hang around bed frame to give the boys a little privacy within their shared room. I made sure the curtains matched the Tiger's theme that had taken over their room. Today, my boys' room is "all boy."

I don't want to be sexist. If my daughter wants a toddler bed that looks like a fire truck I'm ready to drive it on home. Her room can be "all girl" and break out of the social norms at the same time. In fact, I encourage my kids to dream their own dreams and give little heed to what society says they should have or want. I give my boys the same freedoms. Their bedroom has a baseball theme because that's what my boys wanted. I didn't push "boy stuff" on them. They were free to choose what they wanted. I was happy to give it to them. It was a pleasure to give my kids the room of their dreams.

I'm a teacher and an artist. When I designed my kids' rooms I did my best to draw on my professional knowledge and experience. As a teacher I had learned that kids take pride in a space that's just right for them. As an artist I had learned that kids love careful attention to detail and beauty. When I made my kids' dream rooms come true, I tried to combine my knowledge and experience with the desires and needs of my children. That's why I spent some time designing their bedroom spaces before I began the actual overhaul of each room. When the room projects were done I was grateful for the fruits of my careful planning.

The careful planning of my children's bedrooms began with some internet searches. I set aside some time to check out what was available through regular retailers and specialty stores. I enjoyed the discoveries I made on these searches. The first discovery was in the toddler furniture department. I found the most adorable toddler beds and toddler furniture sets fit for a special little prince or princess. I found that the room theme of your child's dream is often readily available. Princess themes, fire truck themes, adorable vanities, bed tents and a toddler bed that's tailored to your tot's wishes are a few of the many wonderful discoveries my searches uncovered. What I learned during these planning stages was exciting and very helpful.

The next stage in the planning process was acquisition. I made decisions, with my kids, about what we would put in their new bedrooms and then we made our purchases. We began with paint colors, borders, fixtures and outlet covers. Later, we moved on to furniture, bedding, knick knacks and wall hangings. Finally, we asked the question, "What else do we need?" Then, we added the final touches to our summer room projects.

My kids are grateful. They love their new rooms. My toddler loves having his first big boy bed. My daughter loves having her own room away from the boys. My middle son enjoys the prestige and novelty of the top bunk bed. My attention to detail and beauty was not lost on my three kids. They appreciate the time I spent planning and acquiring the stuff that would make their dream rooms a reality.

I took great pleasure in living vicariously through my children this summer. It was my dream to have a dream room when I was a kid. That's part of why it was my dream to give my own kids what I once dreamed of. It's part of why I love to see my children celebrating and enjoying their dream rooms.

There's a final reason why I enjoy the fruits of our summer room redecorating. It's pride. My kids take pride in their new rooms. Today, they are more apt to pick up their dirty laundry and put it in the hamper. When they wake up they make their beds before I get a chance to ask them to. My kids enjoy doing their homework in their own special room. Today, my children have taken real ownership of their dream rooms. It's a space that's just right for them. They know it, they appreciate it and they take pride in it.

I have dreamed "The Dream Room Dream" and made it a reality for my very own children. It was worth the time, planning, resources and effort. I don't regret all that I invested in making my kids' dreams come true. It's why I encourage others to do likewise. Dare to dream the dream. Make it a reality for someone you love. Enjoy the fruits of an excellent investment. Enjoy the joy, thanks and smiles.