“Fam-fare” is Family Welfare. The Family has been the basic economic unit since caveman days. Sheltering family members, particularly disabled children and grandparents is common. At times of high inflation and unemployment families have had their adult children live with them. The “family home” has been a fixture in this process when parents have disabled children.
My 3 youngest Uncles contracted Muscular Atrophy when they were in their 20s and lived in the “family home” with their parents. When their parents died, one of their sisters took care of them until they died around age 50. The example of how they coped with their disability was impressive. The “family home” continued to be the gathering-place for friends and relatives alike. The Sunday dinners at noon was followed by bridge games and singing around the piano. Now that original “family home” is owned by a cousin and the home next to it is owned by his brother.
When Marlene and I were married in 1964, we lived in my mom’s home across the street from her “family home”. When we found a house to buy next door to my brother and we moved my mom with us. She was closer to her work and got to see all of her grandkids. We rented her home for 10 years and she was able to save that money and create a “nest egg”. She moved back into her house when we moved to Kansas.
We kept our large “family home” in Atlanta and kept it open to family for gatherings and visits.
We became the family funders and helpers when needed. We are currently underwriting our oldest granddaughter’s expenses as a single mom with 2 teenagers. Our other kids are also helping.
Our oldest daughter and her husband just bought a new home on a 20 acre lot with another adjoining 20 acre lot adjacent to their property. The plan is to build a home on this lot for their daughter and her husband and toddler. They also have their eye on an adjoining 40 acre lot for their son. They are repeating the “family home” process.
We are not alone. Kiplinger reported that 60% of parents pay bills for their Adult Children.
https://www.kiplinger.com/personal-finance/parents-pay-bills-for-adult-children
Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader
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