Obama’s Mother-In-Law, Marian Robinson, Will Also Live in the White House
President-elect Barack Obama’s mother-in-law, Marian Robinson, 71, will soon move into the White House - at least temporarily. During the presidential campaign, Robinson retired from her job as a bank executive secretary to help care for her granddaughters, Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7.
If Robinson stays, she will be part of a growing trend of retirees moving in with their children and grandchildren. More than 3.6 million parents lived with their adult children in 2007, according to Census Bureau data, up 67 percent from 2000. And 24 percent of baby boomers anticipate that their parents or in-laws will move in with them, according to the AARP.
But Robinson won’t be the first in-law to take up residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Ulysses Grant's father-in-law, Richard Dent, and Harry Truman's mother-in-law, Madge Gates Wallace, both lived there too, the Associated Press reports. And Laura Bush's mother, Jenna Welch, often spent weeks at a time at the white house, according to the Washington Post.
Sharing a roof can cut housing and childcare costs for many families. But tensions between multiple generations living in close quarters are also likely. Check out these tips to avoid conflicts.
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Reader Comments
Who pays?
The President of the US pays for all things family related, not the American people. So don't get you tail in a bunch.
Free Ride - Not
I guess many Americans do not know what goes on with money in the White House. The President has to pay for normal living expenses like food, the family moving expenses, and his childrens school not the tax payers. He also has to pay his wife, kids and yes mother-in-law's travel expenses if they are just going along and not a part of an official function. There are auditors that review every expense of the White House and make sure the President (or the Democratic Party if a political event) pays. I guess some people have forgot about the Clintons and "Travel-gate". Trust and beleive it is cheaper to fly commercial 1st Class than it is to fly on Air Force One. The news people traveling with the Pres.......they also have to pay. If you are having heart-burn with the change that is going on with your landscape, try giving to others, your special talent, your money, your time, it may help you feel better about yourself and this wonderful country we live in.
Free Ride
Next one to move in will be Obama's homeless brother.
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