Multi-Generational Lifestyles Add Adventure and a Grounding Richness For You and Your Family
- Kim-The Seasoned Lady
- Mar 18
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 18
Reflecting on my childhood, many of my most cherished memories are interwoven with the presence of extended family – grandparents, aunts, uncles, and as many cousins as could possibly gather. Summers and Thanksgivings spent at my mother's ancestral farm hold a particularly special place in my heart. That land, a testament to our family's enduring roots, has remained within our lineage for over a century. During the summer months, we children would often spend weeks there. Mom would bring us up, and Dad would join us whenever his work schedule allowed. Our days were filled with the simple joys of farm life: riding horses, helping to clear fields, plant and harvest from the garden, constructing imaginative blanket forts in the corner of the yard, and enjoying picnics by Anglin's Creek at a spot affectionately known as "The Hawver Place" – the origin of that name remains a charming mystery lost to the generations that have since passed.
Visits to my dad’s nearby hometown were equally memorable. We would spend hours fishing for crawdads in the creek at the bottom of the hill, picking and eating a belly full of blueberries from the bushes my father had planted in his own youth, and sharing lively picnics with our numerous cousins on that side of the family. With fifteen aunts and uncles on my father's side alone (and that's before including their spouses!), a significant part of the fun was indeed keeping all those names straight. Was it Uncle Jesse or Uncle Darius who could still walk on his hands with such impressive agility well into his sixties? It is my sincere hope that you, too, hold such fond recollections, and if you have been as fortunate as I, many likely involve the warmth and laughter of family.
Since the arrival of our grandchildren, we have joyfully discovered the unique pleasures of multi-generational connection from the older perspective. Initially, our role often involved providing the new Mom and Dad with the occasional respite of free babysitting, particularly for grandchild number one (who, at the age of fourteen, stands a remarkable six-foot-two!). Now, with the addition of six more delightful grandchildren, our multi-generational experiences have expanded beautifully. While we still happily step in as babysitters when needed, we more frequently find ourselves as co-vacationers, welcoming hosts, and enthusiastic participants in game-time fun. See the attached free download for a list of the crazy ways we have fun with our kids and grandkids.
We currently reside in Southern California, conveniently close to our second daughter, her husband, and their two children. A few years ago, they invested in an RV, and it wasn't long before we "empty nesters" decided to acquire one of our own. This has proven to be a wonderful way for us to embark on our own adventures, but equally valuable is the opportunity it provides for us to vacation with that branch of the family. It also serves as our comfortable home-away-from-home when we drive the five hours to visit our eldest daughter and her bustling family of seven. There's a lovely campground nearby their home that we particularly enjoy; it offers a welcome and quiet sanctuary when the vibrant energy of a large family gathering becomes a little overwhelming for the two of us who have grown accustomed to the tranquility of our own home. We also like that we aren’t booting a kid or two out of their beds. We are currently making plans for more extensive cross-country trips in the near future, envisioning camping along the way and visiting family up and down the eastern region of the US.
Ultimately, I wanted to share that travel and the creation of lasting memories can beautifully intertwine with family life. I recognize that the definition of "family" is deeply personal and multifaceted, so please don't let my own experiences limit your perspective on how you might embrace and enjoy yours. Whatever form your family takes, nurture those connections and actively seek ways to enhance them. Embrace the multi-generational lifestyle for a true win! You and your loved ones will undoubtedly be enriched by doing so.
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