So trendy

I didn’t expect to be trendy in 2009. It has happened before–to date my desire for a third child fit into the ~2007 trend that 3 is the new 2.  But having my parents move in with us is a certifiable NYTimes anecdote-trend. Take some wealthy exceptions doing it fabulously. Add to it Pres-elect. Obama’s mother-in-law moving into the White House. I may have missed Lisa Belkin writing about it, but I think it is still a trend. And that I read the New York Times often.

EDITED TO ADD: I knew I had one more point of anec-data: Marvin, the daily comic. He maternal grandparents  moved in this year. Their move was tied to the economic bust, not as a loving help, but still–multi-generational households at work and play.

My parents built an addition to the house we bought. And my parents are retired and I am a freelance worker, who mostly stays home with kids. I think the NYTimes anec-trend is more about the mom who serve as child care and household management so her daughter can fully participate in her career, without having a stomach flu knock her to the mommy track.

Thinking about it this way, I think I should get a job as soon as possible. Or at least when Bella weans. Or when she’s a year. Or definitely when she goes to preschool.

I certainly think being home with my parents reduces the tedium of staying at home. I can list all of the good things–the children get oodles of quality time with their grandparents, we aren’t paying for duplications of services like newspapers and cable and telephone. Even gas and electric–one bill, even in a larger house, is smaller that our two bills were previously. And I enjoy the time with them.

While 2009 is going to be Frugality 2009! (if I say it often enough, I’ll stop cruising slickdeals, right?), I do suspect it will be Work More, Sarah, 2009! as well. Do I actively seek more freelance work? Get an office job? Try a class?

All Grown up?