Should children be required (morally, ethically) to allow their elderly but able-bodied and healthy parents to move in with them?

Perhaps they should be required to make an attempt. A trial period to see how it will work. To explore the question, we need to pose a second question.

Who or What imposes moral and ethical requirements on us? Some people would look to higher powers or religious/philosophical writings, while others would be just as satisfied with the advice of a minister, priest, rabbi, holy man, or mentor. Some hold the opinion that moral and ethical decisions are made by themselves alone, in a decision making vacuum, I suppose, immune to any sort of influence.

I suspect that the way we were raised might have more impact than we recognize, as both the things that our parents told us and also the things that they modeled are burned into our memory (and conscience? ) more or less consistently from a very early age. My parents modeled a behavior of being very open to sharing our home with my grandparents, even my able-bodied and financially secure grandparents.It seemed natural and good to us, and I have many good memories of my grandparents.

As my grandparents aged, my parents took more an more responsibility for caring for them, at the same time that they had less responsibility for us children who were maturing and leaving home. I've taught my children this same thing. Parents take care of children when they are young, and children take care of parents when they are old.

Moving them in while they are still healthy, while perhaps not absolutely required, could serve as good practice. There may be any number of exceptions or extenuating circumstances where the ideal is just not workable.In those cases, an exemption should be granted. Many years ago, families lived together in one domicile much more often, a' la the Waltons, where three generations shared one big old rambling farm house.

My own mother was born in the upstairs bedroom of her grandfather's house. With economic conditions as they are, there may come a day when more and more families once again combine resources out of necessity, for survival. Those of us who have retained cross-generational family relationships will have a big head start on that game.

Good night Mary Ellen. This is a helpful short video to get you started: youtube.com/watch?v=CbQ7H-0_gMc.

Absolutely not! Far too many parents out there did a piss-poor job of raising their children and have no right to rely on those children for anything. For example, my in-laws were mediocre at best as parents and my husband left their home when he was 17.

Now, because of who we are, we try to help them out on occasion, but I would not and could not let them live with us. My father-in-law is not yet 60, but has given up on doing anything more than working at the Wal Mart deli until it is time for him to retire. My mother-in-law is a wonderful human being, but has never worked a day in her life and would not go anywhere without her pet birds which attract roaches and other bugs because of the mess they make with their seeds.

Allowing them to live in my home would be detrimental to my physical health and my husband's as well. There is a reason he left their home so young. Marriage is hard enough for the two people involved, bringing a set of aprents or even an individual parent into the mix changes the dynamic and not necessarily in a healthy way.

While I feel some obligation to see that my parents, and his, are well-cared for, I am not equipped mentally, emotionally or physically to care for them (even if they are still able-bodied). Unlike parents who ahve a legal and ethical responsibility to provide for their children, children have a moral obligation to see that their parents are cared for, not to do it themselves.

If they were physically, psychologically and financially able to take care of themselves, I would not feel obligated. I might consider it, though, if I thought it would benefit the family, for instance, if I had to work and pay for child care and their motive was to move in to take care of the children. That sounds a bit selfish, I guess, but I'd rather have my kids spend the day with grandma and grandpa than at a sitter's, if I thought they would help raise my children into decent human beings and not overindulged brats.

After my mom passed away 20 years ago, I did talk to my dad about moving in with us if he ever felt the need to, but he still prefers live on his own. He took an apartment at the end of my block, so we're still close but still have our privacy. He doesn't care for dogs in the house, either, which I've always had.So far it works out fine but if he ever became unable to care for himself then of course we'd find room for him here.

He'd just have to get over the dog issue....

Yeah, I personally would feel obligated. I feel obligated to do almost anything my parents ask of me though. Maybe it's because they put up with me and took care of me and went through quite a bit with me while I was growing up.

Not everyone will see it this way, but I do feel as though I owe them. There are a lot of crappy parents out there, when you're blessed with decent ones that always want the best for you then you kind of are obligated. Even if they are or were crappy, you're kind of here because of them.It wouldn't be easy, especially if you're like me and cherish your space and quietness.

On the other hand, it could possibly help with bills and childcare, which is the reason that so many cultures keep the entire family in one home intentionally (I'm speculating on that). So, I'd feel obligated and I'd find a way to enjoy it. One day they won't be here and I'd hate to be looking back wishing I had.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.