Posted in challenges, sandwiched in on May 11th, 2013
My last post here announced I’m taking a little break as I’m being pushed and shoved–the usual “sandwiched in” stuff. That was more than a year ago! And I’m not apologizing. But now that my major commitment of nearly two years is almost over–I’m almost done with my graduate degree!–I may (“may” being the key [...]
Posted in caregiving, challenges, sandwiched in on Jan 12th, 2012
Sandwiched In has been on a hiatus for a couple of weeks (OK, a little more than a couple). It’s become the victim of those very things that keep life interesting for the person in the middle, ie me. Since I’m the main breadwinner in my family, and I’m not able to accept full-time jobs that [...]
Posted in challenges, sandwich generation, sandwich ingredients, sandwiched in on Dec 3rd, 2011
When my husband and I moved to Washington state from Alaska more than a decade ago with our two young boys, by the end of our eight-day “trip” we had about $100 left to our name, our two old vehicles, and whatever possessions we could fit around my little Subaru in my friend’s 18-foot trailer. [...]
Posted in caregiving, challenges, expert Q&A, sandwich generation, sandwiched in on Nov 29th, 2011
Patti Kleist, a former “sandwicher,” a longtime advocate for the elderly and the disabled and executive director of nonprofit Faith in Action in Belfair, Wash., answered a few questions for the Sandwiched In. Do you have questions you’d like to have experts answer? Contact me and I will get answers in future interviews. Q: Americans [...]
Posted in caregiving, challenges, sandwich generation, sandwiched in on Nov 27th, 2011
An article today in The Telegraph (UK) titled “Fourtysomething: the new midlife crisis” caught my attention because lately I’ve been contemplating the idea of getting old. When you’re sandwiched in, aging is a bit of a peculiar feeling because not only do you have your children reminding you that you are getting old, your aging [...]
Posted in Alzheimer's, caregiving, challenges, sandwich generation, sandwiched in on Nov 25th, 2011
When we are kids, we are used to our parents making many major decisions for us (depending on age and circumstances) and we trust their judgment to decide what’s best. As adults, we get the privilege of making our bed and sleeping in it, as the saying goes. But when you’re a caregiver for a parent [...]
Posted in 10 commandments, challenges, parenting, sandwich generation on Nov 17th, 2011
One of the things caretakers are very skilled at — and women are much better at this — is feeling guilty. As a full-time working parent, every time your child does something that makes you less than proud, you feel guilty about not having spent more time with him and less time working etc. If [...]
Posted in Alzheimer's, challenges, sandwiched in on Nov 13th, 2011
I was about 12 when I attended my first funeral. My grandpa died of heart disease, and despite being an agnostic, he was sent off in full Orthodox tradition. I don’t remember much except the hours-long procession on foot, in the dead of winter, from my grandparents’ home to the cemetery through the village. And [...]
Posted in challenges, sandwich generation, sandwiched in on Nov 12th, 2011
Posted in challenges, sandwich generation, sandwiched in on Nov 12th, 2011
The majority of the sandwich generation is comprised of adults between ages of 28 and 42, though many are in the 40- to 60-years-old demographic. People who no longer have living parents, or those who don’t have kids, may think the challenges faced by adults in the middle don’t affect them — after all, caregiving [...]