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.

Sticks and Stones

Unlike the ending to the nursery rhyme, "sticks and stones...and names can never harm me," we do know that names and words can indeed hurt a person as cruelly as sticks and stones. Furthermore, whereas physical wounds may heal and disappear from memory, verbal wounds may have lifelong pychological consequences.

Have you ever been verbally attacked? Do you know anyone that has?

It happens to people of all ages -- children in the playground or school, spouses at home, parents by their children and children by their parents.

Every social interaction, every verbal exchange, has the potential to be life-enhancing or life-threatening. We are responsible for our words as well as for our actions, and so are our loved ones. Let them know it.