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- I’m glad we got a house with my in-laws when I was pregnant. We have separate kitchens, plenty of space, and their support. (businessinsider.com)
More Families Choosing Multigenerational Living
Living with extended family has always been a part of my life. From aunts and grandmothers to great-grandmothers, our home was often a bustling mix of generations.
So, when my in-laws suggested buying a house together during my pregnancy, it wasn’t a shock. After all, multigenerational living was familiar territory.
Sharing a home with so many family members meant navigating shared meals, kitchen duties, and the inevitable bathroom queue. It wasn’t always easy, but it was our normal.
And it turns out, this kind of arrangement is becoming increasingly common. According to the Pew Research Center, the number of Americans living in multigenerational households has quadrupled since 1971, reaching 59.7 million in 2021.
I’ve had brief periods of living on my own, but circumstances, like the 2007 recession, often led me back to shared living. Now, years later, I’m once again sharing a roof with family – my husband, daughter, and in-laws.
So far, it’s been a positive experience. Our daughter enjoys daily time with her grandparents, we share meals and resources, and we have a built-in support system for everything from borrowing a cup of sugar to navigating unexpected expenses. My father-in-law even calls our setup “Shangri-La.”
A key factor in our success? Having separate spaces within the house.
A literal door, separate bathrooms, and kitchens provide a degree of privacy that can be crucial in multigenerational living. While shared living isn’t always easy, the benefits of close family ties and mutual support can make it a rewarding experience.