I've seen the extra-career demands successfully distributed to extended family (i.e. grandparents) pretty often in my family and their friends, but whether that option is open pretty much ends up being luck of the draw.
Yeah, thats an interesting point. And i've seen that work for people that i know who have family available.
I can't be sure, but i'm guessing you have a cultural advantage there, as some cultures are more focused on inter-generational family than the standard american culture is.
I suppose this is part of my point, though - i feel like we may be stuck until greater cultural shifts occur. One of those shifts may be to place greater emphasis on multiple 'parent' household - where more than one person is taking on the role of care-giver.
We're still hoping for the first kid, so not quite there yet, but the in-laws plan to be a major influence in their lives. I meant to say extended family. My own parents are on the other coast and a little less traditional, so it remains to be seen how that will go. I visited my aunt up in norcal two days ago, and she seems thrilled to have retired last year and have two new grandchildren visiting one night each a week.
I feel that it's definitely culturally influenced. I'm not thrilled about my in-laws and parents probably coming to live with us when they get older (not at the same time, hopefully), but it's also expected that they won't just be put in a nursing home until a full time caregiver is required and we can't manage around the home. I'm hoping that my in-laws can split time between us and my brother in law by the time it matters, but not optimistic.
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I can't be sure, but i'm guessing you have a cultural advantage there, as some cultures are more focused on inter-generational family than the standard american culture is.
I suppose this is part of my point, though - i feel like we may be stuck until greater cultural shifts occur. One of those shifts may be to place greater emphasis on multiple 'parent' household - where more than one person is taking on the role of care-giver.
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I feel that it's definitely culturally influenced. I'm not thrilled about my in-laws and parents probably coming to live with us when they get older (not at the same time, hopefully), but it's also expected that they won't just be put in a nursing home until a full time caregiver is required and we can't manage around the home. I'm hoping that my in-laws can split time between us and my brother in law by the time it matters, but not optimistic.
I hope you guys can find a happy balance!
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