[larryav8r]

One other aspect that will probably be missed is that the support network that people used to have is no longer what it used to be. Years ago people would marry younger but even then you had relatives real close by to lend a helping hand that is not the case today.

Bingo!

I don't live with my folks, but they, my grandparents, my brother and myself all live within 15 minutes of each other. We share burdens without having to live under the same roof. So many broken families don't have that option. Often a kid lives at home just to help the single mom make ends meet.

One of the most vocal proponents of strong family ties I ever met was an atheist social anthropology professor I had. He advocated American families actually incorporating and pooling resources much like the families in tribal cultures. Because we're all taught to believe we need to strike out on our own, instead of building on what previous generations have accomplished, every American generation is continually starting from scratch.

It was about the only sane thing I ever remember him saying.

[A. Pole]

Because we're all taught to believe we need to strike out on our own, instead of building on what previous generations have accomplished, every American generation is continually starting from scratch.

Grandparents could be very useful in homeschooling!