Multi-Generational Households
By virdell1
@virdell1 (57)
United States
January 19, 2011 8:20pm CST
My husband and I were talking last night about the economy and how it has become more and more difficult to make our income stretch to the end of each month. My Sister-in-Law is having the same problem. We decided that sharing the same house and pooling our income would be a good solution to our financial difficulties.
In the 1950's it wasn't uncommon to see three generations of family living in the same household and it seemed to be beneficial to everybody. The Grandparents were usually near the age of retirement and the adult children were working and didn't always have to worry about someone being home for their children when they arrived home from school. The young children learned how to respect their elders and more importantly the children were nurtured by their grandparents.
I believe that in the United States families have grown apart and there are few families that make extra effort to instill in their children the great importance of family bonds and loyalty. Going back to the multi-generational household could possibly build a better moral foundation for the children in the household and at the same time add stability and reduce stress for the adults.
Do you live in a multi-generational household and if so, what are your thoughts on your living situation?
2 people like this
3 responses
@RebeccaScarlett (2532)
• Canada
20 Jan 11
What you say is the traditional, thousands of years old way to raise families. People who are young and strong should be the ones having children -- when you wait until late 30s early 40s you have a greater risk of your child having defects, as well as running into the problem of taking care of elderly and infirm parents at the same time as you are raising children -- talk about stress!
It used to be that people had children young. Then, because they had young, strong bodies, they would go out to do the hunting and gathering, or farming, and the older generation, (grandparents) whose bodies were a little too tired for that hard work, raised the children. Of course these grandparents were only in their late 30s or early 40s themselves, so they still had enough vigour for dealing with children, but it was tempered with patience and wisdom gathered from living longer.
It is easier to have patience with children too, when you are not with them all day long. So everyone would have more patience to teach and raise the children because they would take turns with the parenting role.
The farther we remove ourselves from our biological nature (having children shortly after we finish puberty) the more we are messing everything up.
1 person likes this
@Professor2010 (20162)
• India
3 Feb 11
Here in india, you can see many family having 3 generations, in my home, my mom and dad, we 7 brothers and sisters, our kids, their family lived peacefully, rarely difference of opinion between ladie arise and that is natural.
now my parents are no more, but my sons, their wive's and kids live with us..
Thanks for sharing, welcome to mylot
Cheers. God bless you, have a nice day ahead.
Professor ‘Bhuwan’. .
@vandana7 (99118)
• India
20 Jan 11
I have seen two families like that, and I think there are a lot of disadvantages for children. They would have tough time explaining any molestation and stuff like that, partly because they are not equipped with appropriate vocabulary, and partly because adults wouldnt want to believe them because of monetary angle. I think I am for nuclear families where children bond with parents and are able to tell everything whether it is family friend or relative who is misbehaving.
