Catherine, 68, and her partner, both retired, enjoy watching the trees they planted grow in their garden in a village in Deux-Sèvres. They also love to see their grandchildren grow up among the animals, the garden and the swing. Mother of three children from a previous union, Catherine sees her daughter’s family every week. Emmanuelle, 43 years old, Jean-Baptiste, 49 years old, Gabriel, 11 years old, and Lucien, 6 years old (names have been changed), live “twenty minutes” from this ” darling “. “It is the correct distanceestimates the sixty-year-old man. Close enough for me to be present and not close enough for someone to call me for a yes or no. »
Ten years ago, when Emmanuelle announced to Catherine that she was moving to Bressuire, mother and daughter worked in the same workshop in Paris, their hometown, one as a computer graphic designer and layout designer and the other as a stylist. Gabriel, then a baby, was there every day. “I took care of him a lot during his first six months, we created quite strong bonds. I couldn’t watch my first grandchild leave alone without me.says the young retiree, referring to the fear of being uprooted. It was impossible not to see him grow. » At that time he was looking to move to the countryside with his partner. Encouraged by Emmanuelle, they directed their search towards Deux-Sèvres.
“We have a lot of friends who go outdoors, but they are often alone. We are lucky »estimates Emmanuelle, who is able to live her life in the countryside and her weekly trips to Paris, in particular thanks to the logistical support of her mother. Her children created a special bond with their grandmother. “I tell them stories from my childhood. At night, after snack, it is a time of sharing in which we talk to each other with a certain trust.develops Catherine, who believes she has found a place to anchor here, with her partner. This is our last home. »
A family reunion, but in reverse
The sociologist specializing in older people Serge Guérin perceives a social phenomenon here, a kind of family approach in reverse. “Before, children often left the place where they were born for their studies, work… and returned there later.starts. Nowadays, older people reach retirement in better health, with fifteen, twenty or twenty-five years ahead of them. They think more about this life and what they don’t want to miss, like grandchildren. »
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