I'm the 90-year-old matriarch of a 4-generation household. I sleep on the couch, and my family shares the other 6 bedrooms.

The Boyd family lives in a large, multigenerational house in Toledo, Ohio. Ali Lapetina for BI This 'as-told-to' essay is based on a conversation with June Boyd, the great-grandmother of 14. She's also a nonprofit professional, temporarily working as a day care provider in Toledo, Ohio. It has been edited for length and clarity. I'm a bit of a night owl and sometimes stay up until 1 a.m. I've created a ritual of unfolding the sofa bed mattress where I sleep every night. Some people think it'...