Economy Is Bringing Home And Family Together
The brutal economy has crushed families all over America. From sea to shining sea there are waves of anguish washing over our families. When the financial tides recede there is something new left behind and worth noticing.
Older children are moving back in with their parents. Young couples and older couples are sharing a home with Mom and Dad. They are renting their home because they cannot sell it in this market. They do not want to lose it entirely. So the extended family is under one roof for a time.
My Dad never thought he would share his recreation room with his grandson's dreadnought acoustic guitar. He thought my fitness equipment needed a cup holder but he was intrigued with my daughter's kindle reader. My wife is actually baking for the holidays with my Mother. Dad and I are staying up late in his workshop.
The move home and combining family members led to unexpected surprises. My daughter found new support for body marking when she discovered that her grandmother has a tattoo on her hip. My son and his grandfather are playing two person video games nearly every night. My mother and I share early rising and coffee habits.
My Mom has a page on a social site and now has over 100 friends. My daughter is helping my Mom's social group with a quilt to raise money to fulfill critically ill children wishes. I actually caught my son playing cribbage with my Dad. I can still see the sheepish look on my Dad's face when I caught him reading and e-book.
There is an interesting dynamic taking place. Relatives and family members becoming friends? We are sharing experiences and finding common ground that goes beyond our DNA. We are uncovering connections we never realized existed. It's happening between parents and children and grandparents and grandchildren. It's wonderful too.
He talked to me about the war, about coming home to Mom and starting a family. He told me about his parents passing away when I was very young. He told me that people, especially men always argue about when we become grownups. He told me that he thinks it is when your parents die because until then you are always somebody's little boy.
The kids laughed at my goofy hairdo and funny outfit. Then my daughter said, 'You have grandpa's smile Dad'. I looked at the picture and at my father. Then I looked at my son's smile. It was a match. That's when I knew that when a bad economy steals every penny you have you can still wrap your arms around everything you treasure. Guess what? Those kind of riches will hug you back.
