How I feel about Co-sleeping and Why

If you weren't able to tell from my cry it out method post, We do not co-sleep in our house. In the first 9 months of L's life, in the middle of the night I would lay in bed to feed her but, as soon as she was done and back asleep, I would carry her right back into her room and lay her in her crib. My husband has joked about letting her sleep with us if she was having a rough night but, it has never happened and here is why...

First off, I see my bed as my own special little haven at the end of the day. I want to curl up in it after my day either by myself or with my husband. I already spent my entire day or most of it with my little people. I love them to death but to me, when i lay in bed, that's my "me" time. To relax and not worry about rolling on someone else or waking anyone else up. If you are like me, you spent at least half of your day running around with your head dangling from your body (not literally) because you are running back and forth doing things for everyone you live with[hahaha]. Second, Like I said previously.. I want my children to have more independence and not have to rely on us next to them for comfort. The world is big and I think life skills are important to learn when you are young. Even if you don't even realize that its a life skill. And believe me I am well aware that no teenager is going to be sleeping in their parents bed.. But I still want my bed to bed for my husband and I. Third, If I want to be intimate with my husband, I don't want to have to worry about other people in my bed, or finding somewhere else to do it. I'm also not saying the bed is the only option because it isn't but Id like it to be available when I want it to be. I've seen this ecard (shown below) very often and I know it's meant to be funny but, I find it annoying.

I'm sure co-sleepers are having plenty of sex but, I'd miss my bed at night.
Fourth, People say you develop a closeness to your child while co-sleeping which I'm sure is  very true but just because I don't have my children in bed with me every night does not mean we aren't close or have a special bond. We do. I cuddle my children all the time and do activities with them yada yada yada. And believe it or not. I've asked my older two on occasion (if dad was out of town or something) if they wanted to sleep with me and they usually say no (its happened on occasion but not often). They also like the comfort of their own beds by themselves and it makes me sad and happy all at the same time. Sad because they are growing up and are becoming independent people. Happy because I know that what I am doing is working. I'm proud of the mother I am and the one that is still developing. Lastly, Co-sleeping is and has been found to be dangerous. There have been numerous deaths from Co-sleeping. People roll on their young infants, they fall into the cracks of the bed and so on. I'm not trying to freak anyone out but that's the truth. And I'm sure lots of people believe there is no way that could happen to them. That they do it in a safe way. But I'm sure the people who endured this tragedy were thinking the same thing. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and I have plenty of mommy friends who are all for co-sleeping. I'm just not one of them.  I absolutely love when my children want to just cuddle, which doesn't happen often anymore because all of them are on the go most of the time. But, I seem to be good enough when they aren't feeling very good, and I'll take it. Basically, I just really like my bed... and my room. It's the only room in the house that has not been taken over by my little people..or their things. I think all mamas deserve some time to unwind and relax....even if it's just getting to lay in your bed....all alone.