I could never happen with my mother. She’s been telling me since I was six years old that when she gets to the point where she can’t take care of herself, put her in a home. But I think we could do it. She may have had her shortcomings as a parent, but as a grandparent she really is peerless. I know her quirks and I respect them, and especially now, while she’s still recuperating from by-pass, I’m staying at her house about half the time. We get along just fine. It’s my brother who makes it a challenge. I just think it’s a wonderful thing, Obama’s matriarchal family. Their family dynamic is exemplary. I’m sure Mrs. Robinson isn’t like my mother, because there’s absolutely no comparison between her daughter and my mother’s daughter in terms of expectations or success. There is no universe where a man like President Obama would feel any attraction to a woman like me…or maybe just don’t get out enough…ha! But the point is, every family, for better or worse, is just a little different. I’m much more focused on being the kind mother-in-law who would be welcome in my children’s homes if they ever found themselves in a situation where I could be useful. So far, so good.

I’ve always told my mother-in-law she had a place to stay with us, and my husband and I planned to have her live with us when she was unable to live alone— She has been divorced from my husband’s father for 20 years. She has been remarried once after that, and then has been living with an alcoholic significant other for the last 10 years. She is independent, she’s only 62, and works full time. She decided she was tired of the alcoholic lifestyle and for paying for her significant other’s bills. She broke ties with him and moved in with us. The plan was for her tojust stay with us temporarily, until she could locate an apartment nearby us. I have always bragged about what a wonderful mother-in-law that I have and that I am thankful to not only have her, but my husband’s step-mother is also a gem. Well, temporarily turned into a year. And we did not mind her living with us and even welcomed it. We did find while she was living with us that she has some major issues though— she does not manage her money well (hence the reason it took her over a year to save enough money for first month’s rent and deposit for an apartment for herself), she is very fickle and will just up and quit a job at a moment’s notice (she didn’t work AT ALL for 3 full months while living with us, we paid all her bills, including her car insurance and her gas), then while living with us she became increasingly critical of not only my husband, but myself— it became harder and harder to live with her, but we love her so we tried to ignore it. We have a 5 year old and a 14 year old, and she began to come home at night when getting of work (she would come home at 10-1030pm- she works as an in-home caregiver) and would WAKE UP our children and have them up with her to watch TV and feed them and give them soda to drink (even when we asked her kindly not to do that)— Our 14 year old consistently started missing the bus because he overslept (from staying up so late) and our 5 year old began wetting the bed again and became completely uncooperative with getting up for preschool in the AM— My husband finally did have a talk with her, and she blamed it on me, saying I didn’t want her to spend time with our children (which is soo not true— she chose all kinds of activities related to going out and dancing and so on instead of spending time with us or our children— which is completely her choice, but then don’t blame us) — She finally decided to move out in anger when we asked her one final time to not get the children out of bed once we put them there, unless it was the weekend, then they could stay up late with her. We also asked her to please leave the dog in the kennel at night (she would let the dog out, feed her people food from the fridge and leave her to run about the house and potty all over the carpet- then we would have to clean it up) — It was just all too much— I love her dearly, but this woman should never live with her children. It is jus tall too much, and she is too critical and does not have any idea what it takes to run a house hold with two parents working and children involved (she never worked outside the home until her children were out of school) — I think in some cases it would be an awesome thing have have a parent live with you— but in this case it is a no go. If it does come to a time when she cannot live on her own, she will have to go to an assisted living or nursing home. My husband and I have already had this discussion, and it really was a decision on his part. He was glad to have her move out. I feel bad that it has damaged their relationship, rather than making it closer, but I am also glad that we found out NOW, rather than later, when she is in real need of care and supervision—

What a blessing Mrs. Robinson will be to her daughter, son-in-law, and especially her granddaughters! Rather than being cared for by nannies or other hired help, the girls will have their own grandmother with them when their parents can’t be on hand! They already seem to be a very close family, and their time together in Washington, be it four years or eight, should help reinforce the closeness in their relationships. No doubt past presidents whose kids were young can only wish they’d had a parent or an in-law willing to do the same!

My parents have both gone to their retirement home in the sky. Also my husband’s parents. If my mom and dad were alive, yes, they would be welcome to live with us, also my father-in-law. However, NO to my mother-in-law (and that would have my husband’s approval) — she was such a snit and caused problems wherever she went! She was definitely a “divider not a uniter”.

While I regret that my own relationship with my parents precludes having them live with me, I think it’s wonderful that Michelle Obama gets to be close to all her family. Family is more than just parents with minor children, and it’s wonderful when families have close bonds.

I would love it if my mother lived with me, but I know that if my passes before her, she will move in with her sister in the UK and they would split their time between there and the US. My parents thought they would be faced with having my father’s move in when my grandparents were in their 80’s and my grandmother had always had health issues. We would have been more than happy to take my Grandpa in, but he died first and my grandmother was a piece of work who hated my mother with a passion (my mother is a lovely person), so my cousins in another state took her until she passed two years later. I loved my grandmother, but I really didn’t like her very much.

In a house like the White House……..almost anything would be possible. When one has servants……..cooks and any other type of help one needs to run a big household. I could live very easily with my parents (they are gone now) in such a circumstance. Honoring each other’s space is the key to successful co- living. My Mother and Father adored each other, being around their sweet way with each other was always a pleasure. Yes, I would have loved that. As to my Mother in law……….no way. Even at a long distance (when she was alive) I could never have lived with her. She was so jealous that I had her Son. To be nasty was her past time. With some Mother’s in law, no matter how hard you try to have a loving relationship they just won’t get with the program. As to the Obama’s………I think The mother coming to live in the White House is wonderful. She will be such a help with the children and a comfort to her daughter when life gets tough. It appears that this is a well adjusted family with great respect for each other. I wish them nothing but Great Success.

When I was born, my parents lived in a big old Victorian house with my grandparents and various of my aunts and uncles. If the house is big enough and the ground rules are clear enough, it would be a joy to live with extended family again. If it is a studio apartment with one bathroom, no way. A friend of mine told me after her first marriage that she would not get married again unless the house had his and her bathrooms with no sharing! Everyone has their own ideas about boundaries. It sounds like Mrs. Robinson is a good egg; she will be an asset to the First Family living in the White House.

To reverse the theme, I’m biding my time and trying to keep as healthy as humanly possible because I definitely wouldn’t want to live with either of my children. My daughter (the long-time planner) keeps suggesting it and I keep taking my vitamins and smiling. We get along fine with about two states between us. My son might be easier, but he’s not hot on my advising his kids (which was the way I brought HIM up), and I don’t want to interfere (much). I wouldn’t have wanted my parents to live with me when they were alive. My mother would interfere too much and my father was an authoritarian who had to run everything. No thanks. (BTW that’s who I inherited my main personality traits from. I’m forever reminding myself to shut up).

It makes sense for generations to live together, especially when there is a special need. When I was a young, single mother, we lived with my parents for awile and I was able to finish my degree at night. I don’t know what I would have done without them. They formed a deep bond with my little girl (now 41), that lasted all their lives. My mom lived with me the last months of her life, after my dad died, and it kept her from having to go to a nursing home.I lived with my sister for 4 months while recovering from a car accident that prevented me from walking while my leg healed. Loving families need each other, and I am sure the Obama’s will benefit greatly from having Michelle’s mom there. There will be times when Michelle is not available to the girls and Grandma will be. It’s nice to see them all working together.

I’ve been on both ends of this, and I loved it! Moved in with my mother when times were hard, and my husband went to school. The kids ended up with a terrific relationship with their grandmother. Also, while my son was deployed, both times, his wife and son lived with us. Again, I loved it. I have a wonderful relationship with my daughter-in-law, and my grandson is terrific. I would happily have them all move back in any time they need to. By the way, I don’t have a huge house, but I do have 4 bedrooms, and room enough for all of them. I do think that if we set ground rules in advance, I would even happily have my mother-in-law or father-in-law move in.

President Obama seems to have a good relationship with his mother-in-law. I think it is comforting for them to have to help care for the children. I have fond memories of my grandmother who lived with us.

It truly depends on the individual. Overall, I’d say my blood relatives are the ones I would be least willing to bunk with…with a couple exceptions. There are parts of my personality I am pressured to suppress in the presence of most of my relatives. I love my friends the most, as friends are one’s CHOSEN family. I’m a Sagittarius; obligation, confinement, being questioned, etc. these are things that are most toxic to us. Given my independent, freedom-loving spirit and my need for quiet, open, empty space (that is, when I’m not out traveling)…I honestly don’t see how I’ll ever be able to live in one spot, much less with other human beings (at least ones who aren’t exactly like me). Kinda sad, actually. lol That said, I would OF COURSE offer my home to ANYONE in my life who is experiencing dire circumstances.

When I was growing up, we frequently had several generations of the family living under one roof-my grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. I loved it, especially having my Grandmother and my cousins there. I think the living arrangement the Obamas have sounds wonderful for all concerned. It will be mutually beneficial and they get along well, the children are blessed to have loving parents and a Grandmother all under one roof.