Who is the Sandwich Generation?

The Sandwich Generation term was originated by Dorothy Miller, a social worker. The term means to be “sandwiched” between caring for children and caring for aging or ailing parents.

The typical age for those in the sandwich generation is between 40 and 59 years. Sandwichers in this age bracket tend to have older adult children and parents in their elder age.

Then there are those like me. Young children, younger ailing parents, and just hit my 30’s. While different, the underlying feelings are the same.

We all feel the same “sandwich.” While each of us have different stories, different trials, and different ways to manage the day, we feel that squeeze.

The desire to do the best, to do more, to do it all, runs us into the ground. We lay in bed kicking ourselves because we forgot to do one thing. We toss and turn, analyzing every decision we made. We wonder are we really doing everything right?

The answer is, WE ARE.

We are only ONE person. We will doubt ourselves, spread ourselves thin, and sometimes lose ourselves in being everything for everyone else.

That’s okay. Just remind yourself, you are ONE person. You do not have to have all the answers. You do not have to do it all. Instead let’s take it one step at a time.

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