Multigenerational Families continued from page 13 She is also a mentor for my granddaughter. They talk a lot and there is a real bond between them,” JoAnn says. Having a husband who was born in Argentina and a father in-law who was originally from Spain has also introduced a unique multi-cultural element into their household. “It’s amazing for my granddaughter to be studying South America and my husband or father in-law to be able to tell her about the countries,” she says. They celebrate the holidays with traditional dishes that her late mother in-law passed along, something neither she nor her granddaughter would get to fully appreciate if it weren’t for their multicultural, multigenerational family home. Though she feels that taking in her mother and granddaughter was the right thing to do, JoAnn acknowledges that because of it, her time is no longer her own. Both her mother and granddaughter have special needs that require extra attention, so her life is centered around everyone else in the house. She also says that she never expected to be raising her teenage granddaughter at this point in her life. Raising a teen is an all-encompassing task and JoAnn has found that it makes it difficult to develop relationships with women her own age, who are well past the point of raising teenagers, or with women who are parenting teens, but are ten to fifteen years younger than she is. Despite the difficulties, JoAnn says that she has learned a lot about herself and wouldn’t trade her experience for the world. “I try to help others see the big picture down the road, those that are facing the same obstacles,” she says. She credits her church family for their help and support with her remarkable living situation. Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in. In times of crisis, family is what gets us through. Having a built-in support system can make all the difference in the midst of disruptive domestic times such as a military deployment, separation or divorce. By moving in with Grandma and Grandpa, the grandchildren experience an extended ‘chain of love’ that gives them a solid foundation during a time of family upheaval. Grandparents can be there for meals and bedtimes when working parents can’t make it home, and they can help keep single parents from getting overwhelmed. Tori Lepage and her son have been living with her mother for about four years. After her divorce, her parents made the decision to help her get back on her feet, so while her father remained overseas, her mother moved back home to help with childcare when she returned to university to finish her degree. Having a built-in babysitter is a huge help, but for Tori, it goes way beyond that. Her mother is also “someone that I can share my meals with, someone to talk to and someone to watch TV with. She’s my mother, but an amazing friend and supporter,” Tori says. For her and her son, having Grandma in the home has its practical benefits, but it also means they both have the moral support, encouragement and loving socialization that few single parent families experience. People who need people are they luckiest people Despite how connected we think we are thanks to modern advancements in technology that let us stay in touch any time, day or night, we are in fact a very disconnected society when it comes to interpersonal relationships. Feelings of isolation and separation are rampant among adolescents whose lives tend to revolve around their smart phones, laptops, tablets, and online role playing games. Having additional family members living in the same home leads to more faceto-face socialization, more conversations, encouragement and support. According to the Partnership for a Drug- Free America, teenagers who have daily contact with at least one grandparent are even less likely to use recreational drugs. Coupled with the fact that isolation and loneliness are the leading precursor to depression in the elderly, multigenerational living starts to look less like something you do because you have to and more like something you do for the mutual benefit of the entire family. Tracy Baker is a 1999 graduate of the Virgina Tech College of Business. She currently lives in Warrenton with her husband and two young children whom she would be happy to have return home one day, provided they learn to pick up their own socks. Does your child meet expectations for ….first words....more words....conversation? How well is your cHild communicating? Happy, Confident, and Socially Engaging. Ready for Kindergarten! tHe Heart of communication for kids Colette Reynolds, M. A. CCC Speech Language Pathologist 183-4 Keith St., Warrenton, VA 20186 • (540) 347-1239 Speech Assessment and Therapy www.talk2colette.com 14 Piedmont Family Magazine 2013 • Issue 3