[beachmouse]

The small lizards are only interested in eating roaches and other bugs. They're nature's pest controllers, and should be gently escorted back into the wild if you find them in your house because there's not enough of a food source indoors from them and they can starve.

[Restrain]

Scorpions love wood, especially fresh wood. You will find them under limbs, etc. occasionally they will get in. Honestly, ants are a bigger pest than scorpions.

[Rabflmom]

Not to be a downer, and realize you don't want to hear anything about the sleeping situation right now; but you might actually have more problems with DCF if they get a report from the kids' teachers that they are sleeping on the floor. As an aunt who lost my brother when his kids were 10, 12, &16. I urge that you and the kids get some grief counseling. I am not saying don't move because it actually helped my SIL and the kids. My brother was hit by a truck coming home from work one night and was buried down the road from them. My youngest nephew would spend the day at the grave instead of going to school a lot that first year. Because he was the "poor little guy who lost his dad" he got away with it-even the school was lenient about his absences. He learned to play the system and kept getting more out of control and behind in school while his mom took more and more Valium to cope with her loss. The minister got them into grief counselling about 6 months after when he realized they just were not coping. Moving changed everything because the pity for them did not happen in the new place.

I hope all works well for you and the girls. For them to feel secure enough to sleep in their own rooms, they have to feel your strength and see you coping. You must reassure them that you will still be there tomorrow because right now they are feeling that if they close their eyes you might die, too. When I lost my 2 brothers and sister in a 6 year span when my sons were young, my oldest realized that my husband and I could also die at any moment and he became clingy and worried about us. We all went to counselling with our minister a few times to reassure him that he would always have a supportive family, people that loved him, and that I wasn't planning on leaving him any time soon.

[Leaving4Ca]

Originally Posted by Rabflmom

Not to be a downer, and realize you don't want to hear anything about the sleeping situation right now; but you might actually have more problems with DCF if they get a report from the kids' teachers that they are sleeping on the floor. As an aunt who lost my brother when his kids were 10, 12, &16. I urge that you and the kids get some grief counseling. I am not saying don't move because it actually helped my SIL and the kids.

I was thinking that about the kids and school too, about the sleeping with you and on the floor, etc. Totally understand that you want to be together at this time! But air mattresses would be good. Also... coming from someone who has 0 family of left... (except for my spouse's fam) please thoroughly examine your motives and feelings before pulling up stakes for a move. Often a move can be a kneejerk reaction to a loss (ummm been there!) and it's not like you can go back and visit a grave site in MN when you live in Florida, or sit and visit with old friends, etc. Please do some grief counseling if you have not already done it. So sorry for your loss, and I wish you and your children much peace and happiness in the future.

[Spring Hillian]

To improve the sleeping situation get a couple of cots such as those used for camping.
You could even go overboard and put mosquito netting around the sleepers.

[Travelassie]

Originally Posted by CPA-Kim

I've lived in Florida for 35 years and I have never had a scorpion in my house, condo or apartment. Once in awhile, I'll see a Palmetto Bug (they look like huge roaches) but that's about it. We don't have flies here, either. We have lizards that are harmless.

I wouldn't worry about sleeping on the floor. Just make sure you buy/rent a house that is well insulated.

Those lizards eat bugs, so they're good to have around...

[Travelassie]

Originally Posted by Sandsam

I am relocating my family from MN to Naples this summer. I'm recently widowed. My girls and I all sleep in the same bedroom - one with me; two on the floor. I'm not looking for comments please on this. This is their choice. We are all feeling a loss.

I am curious - when we live in Florida, will there be an issue with my girls sleeping on the floor? The master bedroom of my house is on the main floor. Do we need to worry about poisonous spiders or scorpions? We do have a pest service, but still I see spiders on occasion.

Thank you.

I'm sorry for your loss.....

Don't think there are any particular issues with sleeping on the floor-

[Robyn55]

Originally Posted by Rabflmom

Not to be a downer, and realize you don't want to hear anything about the sleeping situation right now; but you might actually have more problems with DCF if they get a report from the kids' teachers that they are sleeping on the floor. As an aunt who lost my brother when his kids were 10, 12, &16. I urge that you and the kids get some grief counseling. I am not saying don't move because it actually helped my SIL and the kids. My brother was hit by a truck coming home from work one night and was buried down the road from them. My youngest nephew would spend the day at the grave instead of going to school a lot that first year. Because he was the "poor little guy who lost his dad" he got away with it-even the school was lenient about his absences. He learned to play the system and kept getting more out of control and behind in school while his mom took more and more Valium to cope with her loss. The minister got them into grief counselling about 6 months after when he realized they just were not coping. Moving changed everything because the pity for them did not happen in the new place.

I hope all works well for you and the girls. For them to feel secure enough to sleep in their own rooms, they have to feel your strength and see you coping. You must reassure them that you will still be there tomorrow because right now they are feeling that if they close their eyes you might die, too. When I lost my 2 brothers and sister in a 6 year span when my sons were young, my oldest realized that my husband and I could also die at any moment and he became clingy and worried about us. We all went to counselling with our minister a few times to reassure him that he would always have a supportive family, people that loved him, and that I wasn't planning on leaving him any time soon.

Good point about DCF (Department of Children and Families).

Three girls - regardless of age - sleeping with their father - 2 on the floor and one in his bed - is going to raise red flags the minute anyone learns about the situation. The OP may not want to hear from us - but he won't have a choice if DCF gets involved in any way shape or form. DCF can take away your kids first - and ask questions later.

Also - I don't think that sleeping on a floor - even with an air mattress - is particularly comfy (either from a physical or emotional POV). In addition - floors are colder than higher up in a room. And - unless they're kept very clean - can get very dusty/grungy.

If Dad thinks the kids might need some of his presence - I suggest that the *kids* have a room with their own bed(s). And that Dad have an air mattress available so he can sleep on the floor in the kids' room when they need his presence at night. Would look a lot better to anyone from the state evaluating the situation than what he is proposing.

BTW - the OP is 50+ - so I assume his girls are teens/tweens. Not babies/young children. And his planed relo spot in Florida is Naples - which has very much middle and upper middle class sensibilities. Three teen/tween girls sleeping with Dad - in his bed - on his bedroom floor - ain't gonna cut it the minute any government agency gets involved. Robyn

[Rabflmom]

Originally Posted by Robyn55

Good point about DCF (Department of Children and Families).

Three girls - regardless of age - sleeping with their father - 2 on the floor and one in his bed - is going to raise red flags the minute anyone learns about the situation. The OP may not want to hear from us - but he won't have a choice if DCF gets involved in any way shape or form. DCF can take away your kids first - and ask questions later.

Also - I don't think that sleeping on a floor - even with an air mattress - is particularly comfy (either from a physical or emotional POV). In addition - floors are colder than higher up in a room. And - unless they're kept very clean - can get very dusty/grungy.

If Dad thinks the kids might need some of his presence - I suggest that the *kids* have a room with their own bed(s). And that Dad have an air mattress available so he can sleep on the floor in the kids' room when they need his presence at night. Would look a lot better to anyone from the state evaluating the situation than what he is proposing.

BTW - the OP is 50+ - so I assume his girls are teens/tweens. Not babies/young children. And his planed relo spot in Florida is Naples - which has very much middle and upper middle class sensibilities. Three teen/tween girls sleeping with Dad - in his bed - on his bedroom floor - ain't gonna cut it the minute any government agency gets involved. Robyn

Did I miss the age and that it was a post from a dad? I assumed a mom since the OP said they were recently widowed. I was thinking the Sam in the Sam was short for Samantha.

[old_cold]

OP is a woman.
And she never said the kids sleep on the bare floor. They would be the first to object if they're uncomfortable since it's by their choice .
I wouldn't doubt they choose it because there isn't more than one bed in there and they still need the security.
What's all the talk about CPS anyway? Why or by whom would a report even go in to CPS?
Additionally, as to anything that might bite them. IF it was a problem, whatever it was it can crawl up a bed leg as well as crawl across the floor.

I don't like seeing an anolis (lizard)inside because every once in awhile, one doesn't find it's way back out and didn't find enough to live on.