I was out on a bike ride the other day and took a break from my endorphine rush to notice that the McMansion phenomenon is in full bloom here in Seattle. I certainly sympathize with those who find themselves in a damned-if-you-do-damned-if-you-don't situation when it comes to finding more house for their families in a real estate market that hasn't been buyer friendly for years. But I couldn't help wondering what else was behind this interest in building out to the property line.
Just by chance, I heard an NPR Story on that very topic later in the week. A homeowner interviewed for the segmented share his reasons for wanting to build a house where each member of his family could be screaming and he wouldn't hear them (a curious scenario.)
There were many explanations given in the story for the McMansion trend, both economic and social. But all I could think about was the long term effects on the relationships between the families who live in these houses. It's not enough that we've become detached from our families through technology (cell phones, Internet, IM, XBox, IPod, etc.), but now we're physically separating ourselves from the rest of the family too.
If you grew up in a house where you had to share a bathroom or even a bedroom with a sibling (once a very common occurrence, my wife shared a bedroom with here brother until moving out a few years after college) you probably had plenty of gripes over fighting for your own space. However, despite the obvious complaints, your daily interactions with the rest of the family resulted in quite a repertoire of shared experiences and incidental contact (sounds like the NFL) that contributed to the relationships you built with each member of your family.
My brother and I couldn't stand each other as kids and would fight all the time (one of our epic clashes included a lawn mower chase.) Even though we each had our own rooms, it seemed as if we were always tripping over one another. It wasn't until after I left for college that we realized that we could enjoy spending time together. Today we're best friends.
Now, I'm not going to use this opportunity to launch NoMcMansions.org, but I would suggest to someone who has chosen the big house lifestyle to consider the importance of herding the family together into one room for 30 minutes or so each day to connect with one another. "No Timmy, you cannot play with your PSP and Jenny PUT DOWN THAT CELL PHONE!"
The setting for such time could be dinner at home (sharing ONE meal, not several individual meals cooked separately in the microwave, OK that's for another post) or at a restaurant. Other possible "Connection Activities" could include playing board games, playing cards or any other activity that involves eye contact and , gulp, conversation. You know what's right for your brood. Above all, make it a ritual, not a special occasion. If you commit to it with the expectation that others in the family do the same, then it will succeed. Afterwards, then can adjourn to their third-floor bedrooms in the south wing.
Just by chance, I heard an NPR Story on that very topic later in the week. A homeowner interviewed for the segmented share his reasons for wanting to build a house where each member of his family could be screaming and he wouldn't hear them (a curious scenario.)
There were many explanations given in the story for the McMansion trend, both economic and social. But all I could think about was the long term effects on the relationships between the families who live in these houses. It's not enough that we've become detached from our families through technology (cell phones, Internet, IM, XBox, IPod, etc.), but now we're physically separating ourselves from the rest of the family too.
If you grew up in a house where you had to share a bathroom or even a bedroom with a sibling (once a very common occurrence, my wife shared a bedroom with here brother until moving out a few years after college) you probably had plenty of gripes over fighting for your own space. However, despite the obvious complaints, your daily interactions with the rest of the family resulted in quite a repertoire of shared experiences and incidental contact (sounds like the NFL) that contributed to the relationships you built with each member of your family.
My brother and I couldn't stand each other as kids and would fight all the time (one of our epic clashes included a lawn mower chase.) Even though we each had our own rooms, it seemed as if we were always tripping over one another. It wasn't until after I left for college that we realized that we could enjoy spending time together. Today we're best friends.
Now, I'm not going to use this opportunity to launch NoMcMansions.org, but I would suggest to someone who has chosen the big house lifestyle to consider the importance of herding the family together into one room for 30 minutes or so each day to connect with one another. "No Timmy, you cannot play with your PSP and Jenny PUT DOWN THAT CELL PHONE!"
The setting for such time could be dinner at home (sharing ONE meal, not several individual meals cooked separately in the microwave, OK that's for another post) or at a restaurant. Other possible "Connection Activities" could include playing board games, playing cards or any other activity that involves eye contact and , gulp, conversation. You know what's right for your brood. Above all, make it a ritual, not a special occasion. If you commit to it with the expectation that others in the family do the same, then it will succeed. Afterwards, then can adjourn to their third-floor bedrooms in the south wing.
posted by Rob Mathewson @ 12:14 PM
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