chat

It's funny and sad the nuclear family has eradicated inter-generational living to the point where we can only describe it in terms of cost. Grandparents get to see, interact with and help raise grandchildren, adult children are present to support their older parents as needed, children get a wider circle of familial behavior to observe and learn from as well as the more stable environment it provides. I've met too many people my age with no experience of what age does to the body, who can't distinguish between someone suffering from memory trouble and someone living with chronic pain.

I know you can't just say "we ought to do inter-generational living" and walk away. Can't just slot people into a structure like that and expect it to be hunky-dory. But I also can't deny this intractable sense of loss. That our lives are that much more shallow for its absence.