How Big is Your Household?
@Ruby3881 (1963)
Canada
April 9, 2016 4:35pm CST
Did you know that the nuclear family is a relatively new thing? Until a few hundred years ago it was quite common for a household to consist not only of members of the extended family, but also servants, slaves, apprentices and other underlings.
Family size was also bigger because people had more children. My own uncle, for example, had ten children. My grandfather was one of thirteen kids.
The single family dwelling is also a fairly new innovation. Our ancestors lived in cramped quarters, often with several children sharing the same bed. Go back far enough, and even the adults' beds were shared by several. And over the centuries we've lived communally in everything from caves and castles to longhouses and tipis.
Some discussions about bathroom use got me thinking, just when and why did we get to be so concerned about our personal space and privacy? And why do some regions of the world seem much more at ease with the human body and its functions than others? Is there something it's tied to, like population density?
I am an intensely introverted person, and would never want to live in a sorority house or a college dorm. But I do live in a large household (we are 6 now, but have been as many as 7 or 8 in recent years.) And I have a handful of people who treat my home as a second home, coming and going without first calling or knocking. I'm usually quite happy with all the activity, and I'm very open minded about things like bathroom and locker room use, when I'm out in the community.
How many are in your household? Do you think that being in a larger or smaller household has an impact on how you feel about privacy?
[Image: OldieFan/Pixabay/CC0]
18 people like this
20 responses
@Gina145 (3949)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
10 Apr 16
@Ruby3881 I had the age barrier too. My Mom's sister had three children, the youngest of whom is 8 years older than me. Those were the only first cousins I had as my Dad was an only child too. When it came to more distant cousins there were one or two of around my age on my Mom's side of the family, but I very rarely saw them and haven't seen any of them for years. I don't think I'd know them if I saw them in the street. On my Dad's side there are two more distant cousins, both several years younger than me, who still live in the same city as I do, but if I see them once a year it's a lot. Thankfully I've never had a language barrier to contend with though.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (457249)
• Switzerland
10 Apr 16
When I was a kid, my family was composed by 7 people, my parents, my brother and I, my grandparents and a brother of my grandfather who lived in our home. Even if we were 7, we had privacy, there were 4 bedrooms in our home. Now we are only two, of course I close the door when I use the bathroom. I do not believe that this is something to share.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (457249)
• Switzerland
11 Apr 16
@Ruby3881 The parents of my father lived with us because my grandfather was very sick and my grandmother would have been unable to take care of her husband. At those time we had a maid who came every day to help my mother to keep the house clean and took care of my grandfather.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (457249)
• Switzerland
12 Apr 16
@Ruby3881 I know, my Mom is 95, we do not want to move her from her house, she loves to live there and she would die if we moved her. For the moment she does not even want a help. My brother lives not far from her and this year he retires. As he lives alone, I hope he can keep an eye on our Mother.
@Ruby3881 (1963)
• Canada
11 Apr 16
@LadyDuck This type of situation is becoming more common again today. A lot of people are in that "sandwich generation," raising children and caring for elderly parents who are sick at the same time. We can only hope there will be more of a focus on help for home care, as keeping people in their own homes as long as possible is often the best solution for both the individual and the family.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
9 Apr 16
I have 4 adult children. My husband and I have had 2 of them plus our infant granddaughter living with us. Privacy was non-existent.
Now that it is once again just the two of us we are more relaxed.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
10 Apr 16
@Ruby3881 4 adults, one bathroom. Very challenging.
@cindiowens (5120)
• North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
9 Apr 16
2 adults, and two children. I have about as much privacy as I would with five families living here, lol.
1 person likes this
@cindiowens (5120)
• North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
10 Apr 16
@Ruby3881 Not with, but very near. Our Front yard is the neighbor's back yard, lol.
@GardenGerty (157481)
• United States
10 Apr 16
At this time we are just two. We have had as many as seven or maybe 8. For a year we were three having my older sister with us. Bathroom privacy was not an issue, but with my sister it was keeping her nose out of our business. I have a friend right now that is temporarily sharing her home with four generations. Ten people in her home.
1 person likes this
@annierose (18926)
• Philippines
9 Apr 16
We were 6 in the household before. It becomes 5 when my brother get married, 4 when my sister next to my brother get married. Last year, my father passed away making us just 3 in the household. Life becomes sadder and sadder due to few numbers in the house. Although my married siblings sti visit us,it is just on rare occassions.
1 person likes this
@Ruby3881 (1963)
• Canada
10 Apr 16
I'm sorry to hear about the loss of your father. It's obvious you enjoy living in a big family 
@Tampa_girl7 (48886)
• United States
9 Apr 16
There are only three of us. I grew up in a family of six.
1 person likes this
@Dragonairy1 (1722)
• Newcastle Upon Tyne, England
9 Apr 16
There's just me and my husband now, I enjoy the peace
1 person likes this
@Ruby3881 (1963)
• Canada
10 Apr 16
I do look forward to the peace and quiet. Though I'm sure they'll be gone all of five minutes before I miss them!
@Morleyhunt (21737)
• Canada
10 Apr 16
I grew up with five brothers and two sisters. My parents did not understand the concept of privacy. Somehow as a teenager I did not appreciate getting dressed in front of my brothers.
I have five children, we have shared tight quarters, but we all respect each other's privacy and personal space.
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
11 Apr 16
I prefer smaller household.
In ancient China, the traditional house has many rooms for extended families.
It is inevitable that a lot of quarreling and deep bond developed in such environment.
Privacy is unknown in those days, and even today in many places, they still openly discuss about very private matter, such as salary and marriage.
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
10 Apr 16
It is just my husband and I right now but we have 3 children, 10 grandchildren and 2 great grandsons and we have people constantly coming, going and staying. Over the years we have had our siblings as well stay with us as needed. I am very much into family I don't like have empty nest syndrome!! lol
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
10 Apr 16
there's jest's 2 here now, though we've'd 's many's 9 livin' here'n less'n 1200 square feet. i grew'p with extended family comin' 'n stayin' fer months't a time. ne'er thought much'f it. the only arguments began when all the young'uns moved back home'n a 3 week time span, one with 2 grands. no tiffs o'er privacy, but the washer'n dryer, lol.
@CRK109 (14558)
• United States
10 Apr 16
My mother used to tell me stories about her family growing up. She always had parents and grandparents and siblings and their families around her, either in the same house or next door. They always had support of one another. Even when my parents bought the house I just moved from, when my sister got married, she lived nearby. But now they are all gone and I'm the only one left. I live alone in my apartment with my cat. And I miss having family around me. Such is life.
@ridingbet (66857)
• Philippines
10 Apr 16
we are only 3 at home, living in our ancestral home, plus 7 dogs. when my sibling have their vacation like last Christmas, our house is filled with loud voices of my brothers. using the bathroom was never a problem
@miniam (9154)
• Bern, Switzerland
10 Apr 16
I think it always depend on how much you trust and feel at ease with the people around you.
I live far from my family, we only meet 2X a year and i can say it`s my happiest time, however as happy as i feel to be there,there are times i feel" i could use some privacy now"
If l had it my way, I will have my house full with people l care about and love,there is nothing more fun than a house full of laughter or sitting down 6 or more people for dinner then settling down to watch TV.
In my house now, it`s only me and my husband,the house gets quiet and lonely at times.
Having said that,l still need my bathroom and not share with X peopel.
