Cohousing-L Mailing List: RE: 50 plus coho and kids tyranny

[Forbes Jan (jan.forbes]

Just as older people have a lot to give, so do children in their own way.
On my study trip to cohousing communities in Denmark, the overwhelming
impression I gained was how important contact with children is for the older
people in cohousing.

Some people participating in this discussion may not be aware of George
Vaillant's book, Ageing Well, on the landmark Harvard study on human
development. It is the biggest ever prospective longitudinal study.  It has
been going for seven decades. 

Vaillant makes the point that one of the key ingredients to ageing well is
'giving to the next generation', which includes giving to children.
Unfortunately the opportunities to do this are diminishing as there are
proportionately fewer of them around these days.  Cohousing provides one
such opportunity that many isolated households lack.

Just as with older people, issues with children arise when their needs are
not met, including providing an appropriate environment for them with
appropriate care and supervision, as opposed to including them in adult
activities and expecting them not to become bored and restless.

The pressure to earn more amd more money and consumerist lifestyles may be
causing people to forget how to live like human beings. Perhaps Scandinavian
countries have not lost their sense of community to the same degree as
certain affluent and car-dominated English speaking countries.

Jan

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