Why is it that none of my family members can't seem to reach a reasonable old age . I mean, is it strange that I hope for them to grow old and grey and enjoy a big family?

I now have one family with triplets of 15 year old who are orphaned.... so sad! I hoped their older brother would return from college to help out, but no such thing. Egoistic sob ;)What does happen to them when they spend all of the money? They can't buy any food. I'll always have the next generation button, I guess, but it is so sad.

They should be able to buy food using their income from selling collectibles online. They might not be able to afford the expensive organic groceries or house upgrades, but they should get by. Didn't their parents leave any money, either?

Ah yes, Arnie, sorry if I wasn't clear on that. I meant, when they are out of money, then they can't buy any food. But seeing the rate those kids age, I guess they will leave for college before that happens. Luckily they inherited quite a sum of their parents
They can't make a meal though, so they are getting by with snacks and the Barbeque (A gift from me because they were so depressed after the demise of their parents)

Anybody else experienced orphans?

Orphans?

When both parents of my very first family died, there were still kids under the age of 18 but it forced "new generation" on me and they were suddenly 24 etc to adopt.

Maybe this has changed with the newest updates?? I would have been on the very first version (I think).

This option is better & worse if they are really young & alone.

Bren,

Did it suddenly take you to the Adoption Screen with all the grown up children, or did you press the New Generation button?

There's a message that appears on the screen once both parents pass which explains what your choices are from that point forward, while showing you the Family Tree and the New Generation button. Did that message not appear for you?

I actually had Delilah still living at home when Peach and Mac both passed, and thought about letting her grow up alone, but decided against it and went ahead to the New Generation.

LadyCFII gives an excellent explanation on VF & the choices it offers here.

I hope this helps you in your next generation!

It is funny that I was contemplating this very scenerio earlier this morning. I was thinking it would be nice if an older sibling would come back home to help take care of the remaining kids. As it is now, and as you mentioned earlier, Fawkes, you do have the next generation button, but by doing that the young ones sort of "disappear". I suppose we could just say they went off to boarding school or even military school, or they went off to live with a different sibling (providing there was one). Maybe they joined the circus

I can't remember. I purchased the game 1 hour after it was released.

It was my first family and I'm into the 3rd generation now, and all my other generations or families have not had kids under the age of 18 when the parents passed. If it happens again, I'll have to watch for what I click. I didn't really know what I was doing, and I guess I may have clicked new generation without knowing it would make all the under 18 kids age.

Aaah well, it worked out for the best! The inheritance of their parents helped them through college allright. One of the triplets got the house, while the two others are exploring the world. He married for love and brought a wonderful new baby in the house. All's well that ends well.8)

I had a similar case in one of my families. First the mother, then the father died, leaving their 12-year-old daughter Sophola home alone. At first I decided that I'd leave her in the house. However, she was very depressed. When she went and sat on the decking next to the sandbox with the action line "feeling a little bit lonely" I couldn't bear to let her stay like that, changed my mind, and pressed the Next Generation button.

Her big brother Hacker has now inherited the house and is married and has his own little daughter. The game named her Sophella.

My first family passed and left their 17 yr old daughter alone. I left her until she hit 18 and left for college on her own and then I hit the next gen button and moved the elder son back in. He married for love, had a baby and they have since adopted two more!

I see what I did. I didn't read the message properly. I was probably upset my first set of parents passed away.

My third gen parents of the same family left behind an 18 year old son & 16 year old daughter. I followed the arrow to click new generation instead of knowing the option of 'done' would take me back to the house with the remaining kids. I took this option this time to try it out. They are doing ok and I'll judge how the daughter reacts to her brother going to college.

Edited - too many families in test & I got the wrong family. My 2nd real family left the two orphans. I have managed to get the youngest happy (not sure that's a good thing so soon ... ), but the son is still a bit blue.