Posted on 11/25/2012 10:04:18 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Being roommates with your parents after age 21 sounds like a nightmare for most, but Jessica Bruno wouldn't have it any other way. Bruno, a 40-year-old mom, wife and DIY blogger, lives with her 62-year-old parents, Connie and Fred, in their Sutton, Mass., home.
Oh, and there's Bruno's husband, Tony, and their 6-year-old son, Tony Jr.
Think that's a lot of people under one roof? There's more. Bruno's grandparents, Grace, 80, and Fred, 82, live in the house, too. That's seven people from four generations living together in one home. Actually, make that nine: Bruno's two stepdaughters, 12-year-old twins Alexia and Gabriella -- Tony's kids from another marriage -- stay with them on weekends.
It might sound like a crowded living situation, but it's not uncommon. The Bruno family is one of 4.4 million American households who have three generations or more living under one roof. There are also an estimated 51.4 million Americans that currently live in homes with more than two generations. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, multigenerational households are a growing trend, up 30 percent between 2000 and 2010, a figure that will only continue to grow, experts say.
"We've seen a 25 percent increase in demand for multigenerational housing structures over the past two years and expect to see more," said Luis Tusino, CEO of the GBI-Avis building group, which specializes in building custom modular homes.
The Bruno family has gone to great lengths to accommodate all the residents of their home. They've added 2,000 square feet to the original house over the years, expanding it to 5,000 square feet with three spacious and separate "wings" -- one for each family. They've spent about $70,000 in renovations...
(Excerpt) Read more at realestate.aol.com ...
Until returning WWII vets and their families bought into the first wave of single family homes, the multi-generational home was just the way things were. Actually it can be a blessing, if the grandparents are willing to sit with the kids, if not every day for Mom and Dad to work outside the home, at least from time to time, to allow some ‘away time’.
This is basically the end game, given our financial situation. It’s the way it was in this country for hundreds of years, and it’s the way most of the world has been for thousands of years.
It was only a couple of generations in time that we were wealthy enough to separate our generations - and we managed to blow that, BIG TIME.
Today we have “kids” who have been turned into selfish, entitled brats with no sense of decency. Who would want to live with that?
“Why is it only in America where we say, “You’re 21, gtfo NOW”
You need to get out more. Oh, and study animals, too. I don’t know any that keep the offpsring around past the point they cshould be taking care of themselves.
Let’s turn your statement around: Why ISN’T a 21 year old adult taking care of themselves??? Just what kind of retarded child did your raise? How terrible of a parent are you to have failed to teach your child to thrive?
I started doing chores around the house and farm as soon as I was able to carry in a stick or two of firewood, probably by age six, I’m not really sure but by the time I had a two digit birthday I was plowing in the field with a draft horse, swinging an axe and pulling one end of a five and a half foot saw to cut firewood. By the time I was in high school I was expected to take care of my duties before and after school without supervision. I milked the cow and fed stock before school and again after school, after my older brother finished school and went to work I cut the firewood with a ONE MAN SAW and an axe and worked the little farm by myself, I just didn’t plant as many acres as when my brother was helping. All of this is probably why I very eagerly enlisted in the Navy and left immediately after graduation to go to boot camp. I needed some rest!
and all those people think more liberalism and more socialism is the answer probably.
The Obama's wanted to destroy the American dream. "Middleclassism" they called it, this false idea that you should live better and be wealthier than your parents. The New Normal is here now.
Just like Southfork!
RIP J.R.
Read the last three pages of Harrison’s “Make Room! Make Room!”
After reading some of these posts, I count my blessings. Mrs. OP and I have no children (by choice) and all siblings live far, far away. So, we live with lots of room in a very large house on 26 acres of woodland. Well, we do share our house with two dogs.
The American dream is already dead. Our kids will just get to pick up the pieces of what once was.
I understand the ideal you’re advocating. The issue with this multigenerational homes article is that there are families in the United States who are actually supporting eachother instead of my case where parents and siblings are breaking up and telling eachother to “apply for welfare” and not help eachother while they’re going to school, trying to find a job or build a business. My point is that it’s better and more American for families to take care of themselves rather than send members to the government for help.
Maybe I should have been born to an Italian family instead of Americans?
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