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Multi-generational living. Awesome or terrible idea?

Families have been living together since the dawn of humankind, creating a support system where members rely on each other for food gathering, resource sharing and child rearing. The rumah panjang in Borneo and the tulou walled villages in China perfectly illustrate the concept of extended families and multiple generations living together in a community. …

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There is “me” time, and there is “we” time at home. It’s a balancing act.

Personal space is defined as the physical distance maintained by two people in interpersonal interactions. It has been compared to an abstract area that surrounds an individual – like a shell, a soap bubble or even a force field. In research-speak, words like spatial distance and proxemics get thrown around, but we all know it …

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What happens if grandma says “yes” when you have already said “no”?

There are several reasons why grandparents are involved in the upbringing of their children’s children. One, having grandparents look after grandchildren is a cost effective solution to babysitters and nannies; and two, you get peace of mind knowing your precious little ones are cared for by doting grandparents instead of strangers in a daycare centre. …

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Together, yet separate: Why dual-entrance homes can lead to more harmonious living

When talking about living in a large household (think multi-generational), issues involving privacy and personal space come to mind. Those of us who have experience living in such multi-generational households can attest to the inconvenience and frustration of having to ‘fight’ for everything – from bathroom time to control of the TV remote unit, from …

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Strangers living under the same roof: The curious case of the disappearing family dinner

The nightly family dinner is fast becoming a rare occassion and no longer a daily routine. We are talking about that hearty meal parents and children enjoy after a hard day at the office or school, and catch up on the happenings of the day.   These days, most of us end up hardly seeing …

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Turn air-cond bills into a breeze: The virtues of air-flow cooling in homes

It’s another hot, humid and sweaty day as you reach out to crank up the air-conditioner turbo power. You mutter under your breath as you ponder, in disbelief, on how your parents manage with no electricity back in the day. They didn’t even have electric fans, let alone the latest nanotechnology air-conditioner. So how did …

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In a crowd but still feel alone? Maybe it’s the environment that’s wrong.

Your neighbourhood is an extension of your home. Just as no man is an island, your home is not in isolation of other homes unless you actually live on an island, all by yourself. Which is highly improbable. Most people live in houses or apartments in close proximity of other homes in the same neighbourhood. …

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Medical emergencies at home and the importance of the first 15 minutes

Home is haven but home is also a hotbed of hazards – the staircase, the kitchen, the bathroom. Tripping and falling, accidental cuts, choking on toys, bumps and bruises… accidents happen with such regularity that it is almost a way of life. Adding to that list of unfortunate events are cases of heart attack, stroke, …

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