Last week I wrote about the sandwich generation -- women caring for both children and elderly parents -- and a new study showing that, despite massive stresses, many suffer from "superwoman syndrome" and don't reach out for help.
That's why I was glad to hear back from a reader who had learned, the hard way, that everyone benefits when sandwiched women learn they have limits too:
When my parents moved in with us 5 years ago, I tied on my cape and proceeded to care for them, deliver my 5th child, work part-time at the church, and deliver my 6th child, while taking on another part-time job from home. Then it all came crashing down on one fateful Friday the 13th. After some good medication and months of therapy, I realized that no one can carry a burden like that alone.
So, when my mother-in-law passed away in December and my father-in-law, 86 with early dementia, needed a place to live, he came here. Having retired my cape before, I resisted the urge to dust it off and wear it again. Instead, I hired a caregiver to come and help me 4 days a week, and she has preserved my sanity. This way, I can enjoy both sides of the bun in the sandwich without feeling like the shrinking meat in the middle. --Anonymous
Hiring part-time in-home care, if you can afford it, is a great idea for lightening the load.
Next week I'll post a list of other sanity-saving suggestions for those caring for their parents at home. Please send along your own -- I bet the reader above would love to hear what has worked for you and your family. All of us would -- care giving can be a lonely business, but with so many of us in the same boat, it really doesn't need to be.
Image by Flickr user leadfoot used under the Creative Commons attribution licence.
Comments View 4 comments Add a Comment