Yes I would consider having a family member, parent, sibling, grown child etc. move in; my inlaws are both deceased but as far as families that are multi generational living together I have a feeling this economy may make that a necessity for many families coping with job loss. Hopefully as a nation we still have more people who know how to hunker down and take care of their own then we have greedy bankers who would sell their own mother for a buck rather then take care of their own families.

If I had been fortunate enough to have a relationship with my mother similar to the one that Michelle shares with hers, it would have been easy. But, some of us don’t have that luxury, so it would never have been an option.

My Mother and I are like oil and water, unfortunately. I’m 52, and it’s just been the last 15 years or so that we became friends. It’s not that we hate each other, by any means, we just don’t have that special kind of relationship. Now that both my folks are over 75 and my Mother’s health is very compromised, the issue has been heavy on my mind. I have 2 siblings that are either unable/unwilling to take either in if need be, so that will be my responsibility. My husband and I have said in a heartbeat we would have either of them live with us if they needed to. I just don’t know what would happen with our relationship. My husband’s father would never want to live with us. He is a male chauvinist and has never been very respectful of my daughters and me. I’m not what he considers his ideal daughter-in-law! Plus he’s a grumpy old pain in the ass!

Sure, I’d welcome my mother, if I had the space they have at the White House.

“Would you welcome a parent or in-law to live with you?” It would depend on the how they choose to expend their life’s energy and what role that they play in the lives of each member of my immediate family. While I have no delusions of a Disneyesque scene I also would never invite a toxic personality or abuser into my home.

I’m 61, but I’m writing from the perspective of my 9 year old self. I still remember when my grandmother needed to move in with my mom, dad, two brothers and me. I was the only one she could share a room with, yet there were 60 years difference in our ages. I was a bit of a tomboy so I ran out and did some things at times that my grandmother didn’t approve of. Just running outside to play with my best friend and next door neighbor could make Grandmother get nervous. Many, many times my grandmother would discipline (no physical discipline) me before my mother got home from work. I would be upset and run to my mother to get a different “ruling” on my punishment. My mother ended up caught in the middle. My mother was coming from her generation’s perspective, while my grandmother was coming from her early 1900’s upbringing (which was ancient to me). My mother and father failed to set up some kind of system so that Mom had the last word, etc. Mom, on the other hand, trusted her mom too much for making decisions about my behavior. Grandma hardly ever disciplined the boys, because she was of the opinion that “boys would be boys”, but girls had to be protected especially when we became “young ladies”. To this day, I cannot stand to hear those words because they remind me that my activities were curtailed as soon as I started my period. Whoa! Anyway, I hope Michelle and her mother talk ahead of time about whose role is primary and what situations the little girls get into should be “put on hold” until Michelle and Barack can look at the activities and decide. I think peace and harmony can take place as long as boundaries are in place before the grandmother moves in. Giving my grandmother “carte blanche” did not fare well for me. As a 61 year old, I would remember what happened to me as a child and I would structure the arrangement in such a manner as I have described. Unfortunately, because of what happened when I was a youngster, my grandmother and I became estranged. Whereas we had been loving with each other before she moved in, we just didn’t understand each other after she moved in.

I am reminded of the photo of the Obama’s on election night, Barack and Mrs. Robinson sitting on a sofa, holding hands … very touching. And the fact that his own mother,and grandmother were so influential in his life and both now gone, I think it is great that she can live with them and give some sense of extended family. Plus,we’re talking the frickin’ WHITE HOUSE here, ladies. Servants, chefs, movie theatre secret service for chauffeurs. Were not talking about Gramma in the next room giving orders and getting in the way. And who’s she going to argue with ??? …. her son in law THE PRESIDENT ?? Heck, I’d even consider MY mother in law, may she rest in peace !

I would have my parents living with me, but they are to independent so they probably would not even consider such a thing. I do think having ones parents and grandparents co-exist in the same house lets the children experience what it is like to have grandpa or ma around 24/7.

Like a few others said, in a house as big as the White House I would. My mother in law is no longer living, but for reason better left unsaid neither my husband nor I would have been very comfortable having her live with us while she was alive. If my mother ever needed to live with us of course she would be welcomed. However, through personaI experience I have learned that an average sized one family dwelling is at times just not big enough for two homemakers no matter how close they may be.

another questions that looms about sharing our homes- what about the children and grandchildren who may have to move in due to economic hardships? That might be harder than parents!

Been there done that…………No house is big enough for 2 families!