Three Generations, One House

To break the doldrums of winter, I took my kids out tonight to get some ice cream. When we were almost finished and as I sat and wondered how my son got more ice cream on his face than in his mouth, an elderly gentleman came in with two young children. It was clear that grandpa was taking his grandchildren out for a treat. I watched them order and as grandpa was paying, the young girl asked if they could buy some ice cream and take it home. But who's home was she talking about? Back to Grandma and Grandpa's? Back to her Mom and Dad's? Or, in today's society, is that all of the above?
With the elderly population growing and the costs of healthcare rising against an unsteady economy, more seniors are moving in with their children, who themselves are now parents. This can be both harmful and healthy to all generations involved. From the decision on what furniture or belongings can fit into a probably already crowded space to the changing of schedules to accommodate both young and old, new stresses are introduced to the family dynamic. Boundaries must be established as to not make the grandparents a permanent "babysitter" for the kids and to allow the grandparents to continue to live their lives to the fullest. This new living arrangement should be embraced and looked at as a learning experience for all family members. Multi-generational arrangements should be cherished and treated as a time to share pictures, stories and maybe the occasional trip to get ice cream.