• brucethemoose@lemmy.world
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    9 hours ago

    I know not everyone has great relationships with their folks, but I wish “living with your parents” and generational compounds was the norm, not taboo, in western culture.

    Think about it. It solves a whole bunch of worsening problems at once:

    • Lonely seniors get attention and (when possible) stuff to do.

    • It’d also keeps many out of nursing homes, which is a tremendous global expense.

    • Children get a family “tribe” to live with, which is what our brains are wired for anyway.

    • It takes some financial pressure off kids’ parents, which buys them some time with them.

    • Saves on hired child caregivers (again, a massive cost).

    • “Safer” social dynamics, IMO. It’s harder for a single messed up family member to do so much damaged, and offers a bigger support net.

    • Blunts expensive housing, cost of living, generational wealth gaps, carbon footprints.

    • The structure doesn’t have to be “traditional” these days, either. And it doesn’t preclude assisted living, which can be a massive burden on children.

    In other words, this is a problem that shouldn’t really exist in the first place, IMO. It’s not natural.