Summer 2026
Multi-Generational Living, by Ricky C.
According to Statistics Canada, “Nearly 442,000 households contain three or more generations, housing 2.4 million people,” and apparently this is a rapidly growing group. Multi-generational living is not a new concept; there is evidence that this exists all over the world and has been happening in various cultures for thousands of years. Although I see the allure and perhaps the necessity for young adults to leave the nest and for people in their golden years to have a neat separation from the younger generations, there seems to be something intrinsically valuable about multiple generations of the same family living together and sharing the ins and outs of their daily lives.
My older brother and his family have been doing this since January of this year, with three generations and seven people under one roof, the youngest being four and the eldest near seventy. I had the chance to spend time with them for a few days in May, and the best way I could describe their situation is that there was an intangible richness and fullness to their lives. Some things are hard to quantify and maybe even qualify, but I could see the children learning how to navigate not only the relationship with their parents but with their grandfather as well. It seems like there is a separate gear needed when interacting with someone six decades older or younger than yourself, and I don’t believe there is any amount of money or schooling that can provide this kind of lived experience.
Additionally, there is something to be said for adults spending time with their aging parents. I’m nearly fifty, and I’ve been living with my mom for the last seven years. I know my time with her is limited, so I feel grateful that I can be with her into her golden years. I can help her with physical tasks around the house as well as with navigating an increasingly complex and digital world. But this is not a one-way street: my mom grounds me and reminds me from time to time that I am someone’s child. She makes amazing meals, and we talk about all sorts of things from religion to what’s on sale at Costco. Also, I think we all sometimes need a soft (sometimes loud) voice reminding us to not slouch, drink more water, and eat less sugar.
Of course, there are complexities within families, and some people are not close or even on speaking terms with theirs, for a variety of reasons. And, I don’t mean to romanticize the struggles of family life, with clashing personalities and sometimes serious conflicts. However, for the “average” person, this seems like an opportunity missed, not only for practical reasons like having a babysitter available at any time, or young adults saving money on rent, or seniors having someone to be near in case of an emergency, but to enrich the lives of the young and old and strengthen intergenerational connections.
There is a popular quote, “Life is not measured by time. It is measured by moments.” I know that multi-generational living is not desirable, or possible, for many people, but if we could fill our moments with those who come before and those who come after, I feel we could have a deeper understanding of others and be better equipped to support each other during the various ups and downs of life.
