Everyday Multigenerational Family Real Life
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Today I am sharing our everyday multigenerational family, the new version. You guys made me realize something, three generations under one roof is still interesting. I decided based on all the emails that I would start a new series called “Multigen Shenanigans” which will highlight the weeks funny, not so funny and some boring moments (what I consider boring…) of what goes on in our house.
I got away from sharing everyday real life moments I think because I don’t always find us interesting and overthink what I am sharing.
Thank you to Sarah S. for your email saying, “what happened to you? why don’t you share real life anymore?” Check out this post on reflecting on self sabotage for more on that.
That was such a great wake up email!
I bounce around a bit in this blog post sharing real life stories and a bit of reflection on our new everyday multigenerational family, so hold on tight!
Real Life Multigenerational Family
Side note #1 – This our barn that needs stain. What color do you think? My dad and I battled last Saturday while he repaired the roof about moving the ladders from the side of the barn. He literally hung then on the side of the outside wall.
Do you see them in the first picture?
It’s the first thing you see as you drive up to our house and I think they look so stupid. He could care less about looks and is all about practicality.
Side note #2 – The pictures below are a million hours worth of work restoring the flower beds, mulching, detaching the lawn and countless trips to the compost pile. My dad and I do most of the yard work while my mom will tend to the annual planters full of flowers once we get them planted. One benefit of multigenerational living, more hands on deck for chores.
I am tackling the overgrown pool flower bed this weekend.
Our Multigenerational Living Blog
I personally think our everyday multigenerational lifestyle as a multi-gen family under one roof is kind of boring and not very interesting but you all have made me realize, I am crazy. You would not be the first to think that, I have been called crazy on a few occasions. -ha
I wanted to say thank you for all the emails, messages, social media comments on all the changes going on in my life.
One of the biggest things you all have helped me with is realizing that I need to keep sharing our “new version” of Four Generations One Roof.
When we went from four generations under one roof to three generations, I think I avoided it as a way of dealing with all the change. I usually hit things head on and rarely avoid anything but for some reason, I did with this.
Everyday Multigenerational Tips
I read a recent article at Wiki about how to function in a multigenerational home and they did a great job explaining the obvious issues that many may not think about. You can read my previous articles about what a multigenerational home has taught me, how to handle finances and how to live with your parents #1 and part #2.
It’s hard to believe it’s been over a year since we sold the “four generations house” and bought the “three generations house.” Keep in mind, our family moved a mile down the street. The UPS guy makes fun of me everytime he drops off a package wondering if moving back “up the hill” will happen again.
Side note #3….my son loves to cook and this past week he made the juiciest fat filled most unhealthy burger for everyone. Needless to say it tasted amazing but I felt sick later.
Didn’t exactly jive with our healthy eating but sometimes, you just have do it.
Our Multigenerational Household
Over the past couple months, I have gotten several emails and messages on social media asking how life is going in our new multigenerational family household. The short answer is much better!
Side note #4 – My mom and I went shopping for the Lady Loft this past weekend and had some fun. She is a great assistant when I am shopping for a project.
Both of my grandparents (see gram and gramp) are gone now and I could not be more grateful for the 8 years we had all living under one roof. Although, my grandfather came close to being evicted on more than one occasion.
Four Generations One Roof blog was actually started as a way to keep friends and family updated on our everyday multigenerational family and real life moments living under one roof and an online journal for years to come.
I am SO THANKFUL to have all my grandparents stories, mishaps, happy, sad, mad and everything in between online for my family to revisit and look at.
Side note #5 – My dad. I seriously do not know about him sometimes. I woke up last Sunday morning to guns blazing and what sounded like a war movie. He was laughing hysterically and the TV was ridiculously loud.
I went to shut the doors to the room and it wasn’t a war movie. He was watching the animated Disney movie, BRAVE. Alone.
Loving every minute of it.
It’s really hard to believe the amount of change in the last 12+ months but one thing is for certain, time does not sit still.
Many of you have asked for more everyday multigenerational family day to day “real life” posts, similar to what I shared in previous years and Multi-gen Shenanigans will accomplish that. If you want to see more of something, feel free to leave a comment or email me because I clearly need direction sometimes.
About The Author
What started as a hobby, Jessica’s blog now has millions of people visit yearly and while many of the projects and posts look and sound perfect, life hasn’t always been easy. Read Jessica’s story and how overcoming death, divorce and dementia was one of her biggest life lessons to date.
Thanks so much for sharing about your life Jessica! This is exactly what I have most loved about your blog and what makes it stand out from so many other DIY blogs. Don’t get me wrong – you are an amazing DIYer with great ideas and style, but I just find it fascinating hearing about how your multigenerational family lives and functions together!
I’m glad to hear that you are doing well as I know the past year has been incredibly tough. I have had a rather rough year myself with death and loss, and I guess misery loves company, ha, but your blog has been an encouragement to me. So, thank you for being real and being yourself! On a side note, how wonderful that your son likes to cook – I’d love to hear more about him if he doesn’t mind your sharing. I’m also sure that there are many single parents who would love to hear about how you and your son are getting along and doing life now.
Also, I agree with you about the ladders – maybe your dad could move the ladders around to the side or back of the barn?:)
Hi..always enjoy these family posts. About those hamburgers…made me laugh. Ours would be well done, onions browned, bacon crisp. After heart and stroke issues…you know. So made me wonder about how you reach compromises on food issues. Your diet versus your growing sons versus your parents senior dietary constraints. Hope you’ll do a page on all that. Best to you all.
haha well that burger picture was not fully cooked yet 🙂 BUT they were the most unhealthy thing on the planet! My thought on food. Well, 90% of the time we ALL eat pretty healthy and my goal with my son has always been to teach him to make good choices but splurge too in moderation. It’s tricky with kids because you don’t want to scare them but awareness is a must. His dad is diabetic so he has grown up knowing that food plays a huge role in how your body works. It’s a balancing act for sure!!
Love, so glad you are back!
Thank you Vicki!
I enjoy reading about your life. Someone else’s life always seems much more exciting than your own, so it’s fun to read about. Plus, it makes you feel connected to other people and not so alone.
Thank you Brenda for reminding me of that! 🙂
Hi Jess,
I have been following your posts for a couple of years and have enjoyed reading all the topics you cover. Please don’t doubt that you have a gift for inspiring people, no matter what you write about or how you express it. For me you have most importantly made me realize the gift of my mom’s presence in my life. I have more patience with her as she becomes slower and as she becomes more forgetful. You have also inspired me to spruce up my home without spending a bundle of cash ( love Home Goods). The diet and the outdoors, meh, not so much, but I cheer you on every time I see you posting a photo of your weight loss and walking with the “Murphman”. Lastly, as a student of Villanova University College of Nursing -Online RN to BSN program, I wrote a paper comparing and contrasting your site, FGOR, to the mega-site, AARP. And of course I received an A. Keep doing what you love, we love hearing about it.
Georgie – NJ
You seriously JUST MADE MY DAY! I often wonder if any of what I share is helpful haha. I cannot believe you wrote about our site, that is SO AMAZING and I love that! Good for you pursuing a degree in nursing. My BS is in legal communications and before I started my blog, I was applying to accelerated nursing programs to get my nursing degree as I love helping people. Well the blog turned into another avenue of helping people and accidentally became a career so the nursing thing never happened. I am so happy you left this comment, you started my day off with a big smile :).
So glad you are back!!! I know at times your life may seem frustrating or boring, but you give all of us inspiration, allow us to experience joy and sadness along with you, And especially for me–you make me feel ” normal”. One crazy loves to meet another crazy because then we are not crazy–can’t be if there are two of us.
From the bottom of my heart–thank you–for al of the past and for giving us hope that we can walk with you today and into the future. By the way–those burgers looked amazing!
Thank you so much Lin!!! I always love hearing feedback and yes, you are not the only “crazy!” haha.
So glad you are back!!! I know at times your life may seem frustrating or boring, but you give all of us inspiration, allow us to experience joy and sadness along with you, And especially for me–you make me feel ” normal”. One crazy loves to meet another crazy because then we are not crazy–can’t be if there are two of us.
From the bottom of my heart–thank you–for al of the past and for giving us hope that we can walk with you today and into the future. By the way–those burgers looked amazing!