Blog
The 'Sandwich Generation'
Friday 24th January 2020
Last week I proudly became the grand parent of a wonderful baby girl and now find myself part of the growing sandwich generation.
For those of you who do not know what this is, let me explain. The Sandwich Generation are those of us who are torn between helping look after our grandchildren and our ageing parents, usually in our 50's-60's so still working, often full time. We are cash rich (I wish!) and time poor and are busy working and juggling our own household chores and that of our family members.
Phew that's exhausting just typing all that we do, we are in fact Superheroes!
I feel as though I'm on a loop - work full time, help with family, keep my own home up together and fall exhausted into bed, with no or little time for myself or my husband. I'm not the only one in this position and was shocked at the statistics. Did you know 1 in 5 suffer from their own ill health due to the additional stresses placed on them trying to cope? 1 in 3 are too afraid to travel just in case their children or parents might need them and 14% of people admit they have no quality of life!?
Now I don't know about you, but I thought as I got older life would get easier, slower and I would start to ease into my retirement phase. Uhhhhh, No. I'm busier now than ever before. Luckily for me I've been helping families overcome this scenario for the last 6 years and truly understand their guilt - Who do I help? Do I spend time with my beautiful granddaughter, after all she's going to grow up so fast, if I blink I will miss it? Or do I make sure my parents have their garden kept up together as they can no longer do it? Or make sure they've got plenty of food in the house for meals.................. And so it goes on.
But there is a way around this, where everyone can be happier. Employ a home helper for your elderly parents, so when you do visit, you spend quality time with them instead of having to do the chores. Maybe you can even take the grand child along to visit them (2 birds one stone and all that) after all, great grand parents are even prouder than us grandparents! They love to see their new little family members, it makes them feel wanted, appreciated and most of all, it helps bond the intergenerational relationship that families need to keep them together.
Why not give us a call on 01179477422 to see how we can help your family.
Tina x
P.S. Yes, that is me grinning like a Cheshire cat whilst holding my beautiful baby granddaughter 1 day old xx