LEWISTON, Minn. — At their multi-generational home in Lewiston, Elizabeth Bartram said “Christmas is way more fun.” She gathers with her family without the travel and without a phone streaming the festivities.
They find more reasons to gather, such as meals and puzzles, with her husband Keith, son and mother living together. “We get to do a bunch of different things together that I’m not quite sure would have happened had we didn’t have this arrangement or (my mom) didn’t move to Minnesota,” Bartram said. After living in a home with a series of stairs in Maple Grove, Bartram knew they needed less of a commute up and down the stairs.
A ranch home with two laundry rooms, large bedrooms and two living rooms would give their family independence and different gathering options. They set to “basically create two homes all in one,” as Bartram described of adding elements such as a second kitchen. Bartram’s mother and son, who has cerebral palsy, live on the main level and Elizabeth and Keith live on the basement level.
While the idea can seem “backwards,” Bartram said having their family members in a shared home and the extra space are beneficial for the whole family. ADVERTISEMENT “My mom used to actually care for the elderly so as a kid I grew up with other 13 people in our home. So it’s just natural to take care of your family,” Bartram said.
She’s glad to have their family taking care of each other. Her mom runs errands and her older son who is .
