Are you living with your parents and raising your own children and don’t know how navigate through the generation gap?
Or you’re planning to have your parents move in and don’t know what to expect?
There can be setbacks and benefits of living in a multigenerational household and there are ways to bridge the generation gap of your household.
What Is a Multigenerational Household
According to Pew Research Center, a multigenerational household are technically defined as including two or more adult generations which usually consists of grandparents, the parents and children younger than 25 years old.
In multigenerational homes, families often have separate living areas under the same roof.
They also tend to split bills and housework, and often pitch in for caregiving beyond their immediate family.
Benefits of Living With a Generation Gap
There are many benefits of a multigenerational home, and that includes:
1. Lower Living Expenses
Affordability is a major benefit of a multigenerational household.
Each family in a multigenerational home often pays less in bills than they would if they lived on their own.
The mortgage doesn’t rise because there are six people living in a home instead of two.
Gas, electric and cable bills don’t go up considerably when the number of residents increases.
Even if you’re buying more groceries, the cost might be less after you’ve split the bill.
That extra money can go towards savings, debt repayment, hobbies or other things.
2. Affordable, Trustworthy Adult or Childcare
Many working age adults are still mid-career.
And sometimes their aging parents may be in need of assistance, while still having young kids to raise.
Many adults and their older kids care for their aged parents or grandparents in multigenerational homes.
Grandparents that have retired can also babysit the little children as well.
With the extra help you get, you can use the money for something else.
Not only that, you’d have someone you trust taking care of your parents and young children.
3. Enhanced Mental and Cognitive Health
People that grow up in multigenerational households have higher levels of cognition, according to a research.
Having the social support from a multigenerational family may also lead to better mental health too.
There are significant cognitive and emotional benefits for the elderly members of a multigenerational home as well.
Loneliness, lack of stimulation and social connection are serious problems for aging adults living alone, especially as partner and friends start to grow older.
Being surrounded by the noise and interactions of family life and feeling a sense of meaning in playing a role in the household can preserve adaptability and help prevent cognitive decline and conditions such as depression that eat away at mental and physical health.
Drawbacks of Living in a Multigenerational Home
There might be a few cons when it comes to living in a multigenerational household too. These may include:
1. Less Privacy
Those that live in multigenerational homes may have less privacy.
Your immediate family might have a personal wing or floor to themselves, but you still have some communal space.
You might not be able to talk on the phone or listen to music without being heard.
If you’re someone who likes to spend a lot of time alone and like your personal space, this could be a challenge.
2. Caregiver Burnout
When one person takes care of most of the people in the house, it can quickly lead to caregiver burnout.
Similarly, aging parents who take on more caregiving responsibilities that they can handle might burn out as well.
3. Increased Tendency for Family Conflicts
Another drawback of living in a multigenerational is having to deal with opinions from almost everyone.
Everyone has an opinion about everything.
Your parents might give their input on how to raise your children.
There would be more people to voice out their opinions on what to eat for dinner, for example.
How to Bridge and Navigate Through the Generation Gap
According to Harley Therapy, there are a few ways you can try to bridge that generation gap:
1. Communication
Communication is a crucial element of any relationship.
It can be tricky as different people have different communication styles.
However, if you can communicate your situation and problems freely, you might just eliminate possible stress factors.
Mutual respect is also an important key for this to work, and also to have empathy towards others.
2. Clear Boundaries
Make sure that you set clear boundaries.
If you don’t want their input on how to raise your own children, then let them know that there’s a boundary.
3. The Balance Between Companionship and Privacy
Having your own space and time is important for everyone.
Even if it’s only for a few minutes of peace and silence.
It’s important that you find a balance between wanting to be together as a family and respecting each other’s privacy.
Bridge the Generation Gap Your Way
If you don’t think a multigenerational home is the one for you but you do want your children to have a good relationship with your parents, there are ways to do that.
One way might not work for you while another might.
Having a good communication about what’s best for the whole family would be the first step to take.
If you live in a multigenerational home yourself, let us know what’s the best thing you gained from that and whether you have your own strategies if setbacks arise.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice from Motherhood. For any health-related concerns, it is advisable to consult with a qualified healthcare professional or medical practitioner.
For more insightful stories and fun recipes, stay tuned to Motherhood Story!