Aging Parents

How many of you are now part of the "sandwich generation," caring for elderly parents and children, too? Women in midlife, moreso than men, usually care for at least one elderly parent and carry the responsibilities of their homes as well. Thus they take on the practical job of meeting their parent's needs while suffering through the emotional turmoil of "losing" the parent as they once knew him or her. They experience a dramatic role reversal, as the parent depends on their daughters physically and psychologically. The daughters, on the other hand, may no longer be able to look to the parent for any means of support.

We have to be careful, lest our children suffer the consequences. It is a difficult task indeed to keep our normal schedules while loading on further responsibilities.

My heart goes out to the many women (or men) who are being squeezed in this way.