Families come in all shapes and sizes, especially here in Canada where there are people of a variety of cultures and lifestyles all living together in one country. Since there are no rules as to how a family should be constructed, it's up to you who to invite to live with you when you take possession of your custom homes in London, Ontario. Most Canadians will choose only to cohabitate with their immediate family (parents and children) but some will incorporate portions of their extended family as well, including grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles. Here's what you can expect if you've got your extended family living with you.
Support and Connections
Often times extended family members find themselves living in the same house when one or more of them are going through hard times. For example, your in-laws lose their retirement savings and have to put up their Toronto Beaches homes for sale or your cousin loses her job and can't pay her rent, or you're a single parent who can't afford day care. By incorporating your extended family into your life, you're bolstering your means of support and keeping connected with your family members, which can help you all have a closer relationship and make life easier.
More People to Consider
Unfortunately, the more you incorporate extended family members into your life, the more control they have over family decisions and the more input they will expect to have on issues within the family. For people who are used to their immediate family's business being private, this can be a difficult adjustment. You may not welcome your relatives butting into the discussion about which home to buy on the Oakville house listings or how to raise your children, and conflict will arise unless you sit down and agree on boundaries.
Wider Pool of Knowledge
The saying goes that it takes a village to raise a child, so the more people there are in your child's life the wider his or her experience will be. While your children can learn about how Scarborough real estate agents work from you, they might learn about honor and duty from grandpa or canning preserves from Auntie Sue. More positive adult role models are always a good thing, and with so many people around the child will always have someone to turn to or watch over him when he needs it.
Space Constraints
Unless you've got a home that's too large or you're going to buy a new home off the Markham MLS that will fit everyone, your immediate family will have to make room for the newcomers. This can cause resentment and jealousy, especially among children, if everyone does not make equal sacrifices. Obviously, with less space, you will not be able to have as much privacy either.
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