US woman goes viral for living with husband, parents, grandparents. Netizens say: 'They discovered Indian joint family'

US woman lives with her husband, son, parents and grandparents in a four-generation home. (Image credit: Business Insiders)

A 29-year-old American woman has gone viral after sharing that she lives in a four-generation household with her husband, parents and grandparents. Many social media users compared it to the traditional Indian joint setup.

Lily Tellonyan, a remote special education teacher in Lansing, Michigan, moved in with her parents, Naomi and Tim Van Loh and grandparents in November 2024. Her husband Alex and son, Xander, born in April 2025, also live in the same house.

Lily shared that living in a multigenerational home was always her dream. After she started her own family, rising childcare expenses and her grandmother’s worsening health made the decision easier. Her grandmother, Eva, 87, suffers from dementia and requires full-time care, Lily told Business Insider.

The family splits expenses, including groceries and utilities. With four earning adults and Social Security benefits for the grandparents, the household income is around USD 230,000 and living together helps them reduce costs.

Sharing what her days look like, she told Business Insider that their mornings begin early, with each member sharing responsibilities. Lily works from home while her mother looks after the baby and her elderly parents. The family has divided the house so each couple has private space.

Living in a multigenerational household is becoming more common in the US, but having four generations under one roof is still rare. Lily said some friends questioned their choice, but for her family, this was always “plan A”.

Lily’s story resonated with many Indians as they saw similarities with the traditional joint family system.

One X user said, “And us Indian parents/ grandparents sharing our bed with little ones is now their 'co-sleeping with baby'!”

Another joked, “It's American innovation to live multiple generations in one house. Iska bhi patent hoga.

A third user wrote, pointing out that she is living in the same household with her parents and grandparents, “Due to rising cost, not love. Joint family declined in India when everyone could afford a home.”

Another commented, “They discovered the Indian joint family.”