Three Generation Households

[Doc]

Frankly, there are days when it fits the description of sit-com more than anything. ;) Since I know all of the household members very well, I have been the sounding board for many the gripe and anecdote. :P

It's hard being the older wiser sort. (No offense there young lady) The whole sounding board thing. People come to you and expect you to not only listen, but somehow solve all of their problems. Hell, I'm older but I am not all knowing and I certainly can't fix everything like people seem to expect me to... I got my own problems, like remembering what day of the week it is, or what year it is, or what the current month might be. (The other day I insisted in an argument that it was still April. And it is actually June. I think)

I think it is good for us older folk to be around young children... Like a grand parent living in the home. Now, see, most adults, they grow up, and they really grow up if you know what I mean. They get all responsible and uptight and have a mortgage and all these bills and what not. These adults forget to have fun. And they act like parents, which is a real drag. They are running around all frazzled and bent out of shape and a load on their shoulders. In short, they have probably become their own parents.

However, you reach a point where you burn out and no longer give a damn. You just don't give a damn what other people might think. You no longer give a damn if something just might leave a hard to clean stain. You no longer give a damn if that second bowl of chocolate pudding might go to your ass or perhaps your thighs. You no longer give a flying flip at a rolling donut that you might do something that may make you look foolish. In short, you killed that bug up your ass and became fun again... Which is why older grandparent types really do belong in the family, because the parents themselves are moody self suffering buzzkills.

The other day I actually sat down with my niece and coloured on the walls. Hell, what's the big deal? The crayons wash off. Damn sure doesn't hurt the wall... Just a little 409 and about five minutes with a sponge and everything is right again. She had a good time, I had a great time, and there was no harm done... Until I got lectured for letting her colour on the walls yet again. (And that's another thing, what business does anybody have lecturing me at my age, hell with you, I already know thank you very much. I own those walls and I am most certainly not teaching her anti social bad habits)

I find it sad that both of her parents have long since ran away from all responsibility and that there will never be a three generation house for her... Her grandparents are her parents. (And if granny lectures me one more time I am going to let that fool woman have it)

I guess these multi generation homes, when they are healthy and good and functional (No comment about extended families all living in the same trailer) they should be celebrated.