The driving force is economics or financial constraints of divorce. Since the recession took hold, however, doubling up at a faster pace. Massive job layoffs, home foreclosures are fueling the need to slash expenses by squeezing more family members under one roof.

Life for my parents isn't quite as serene as it was when they retired-before my sister and her family moved in, and I stayed for two weeks after a recent divorce. While waiting to move in an apartment I saw the the impact of home foreclosures. The living room is a makeshift bedroom for one of my nephews. Dividing up household expenses helps families weather the downturn, but there can be adverse consequences. High on the list is sharing power between parents who are used to ruling the roost and their adult children. I learned quickly that the challenges my parents incurred with three generations under one roof. The food they ate involved my mother and sister habits, my mom loves to bake but my sister eats only organic foods and uses on natural ingredients.

 For all of the sacrifices that multigenerational households demand, there are many rewards. People are realizing they want to be closer and they see during this recession that we're stronger together. We're more interdependent and we need each other. Many find joy in sharing daily life with their grandchildren. My mom says, "raising kids is a challenge, but grandchildren are a pure joy. That is what I live for now."

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