The Sandwich Generation

Yep, that’s me. The sandwich generation. And here’s the thing about this….it SUCKS. I have yet to find one good thing about this. Let me explain…..

In a land far far away and a time far far long past. Kidding. I’m not going to go that far into my past. At least not yet. I make no promises for later.

The upshot on why I am starting this? Because after not following my passion, which is writing, I decided it was time to get some pleasure out of what has been – a not so pleasurable life thus far. And, no, AI is not writing this. A human is.

Something kinda funny though…when I told my oldest about this, they thought I had made up the term Sandwich Generation. I made them look it up. It is not a made up term.

According to Google AI – cuz that’s what shows up at the top now of every Google search, here is the definition of the Sandwich Generation.

sandwich generation

/ˈsan(d)ˌwiCH ˌjenəˌrāSHən/

The “sandwich generation” refers to middle-aged adults (typically in their 40s to 60s) who are “sandwiched” between two caregiving roles. They are simultaneously responsible for supporting their own children and providing physical, emotional, or financial care for their aging parents.

Key Variations of the Sandwich Generation

Not all caregiving situations look the same. The phenomenon generally falls into three main categories:

• Traditional: Adults caring for both their young or dependent children and their aging parents. (This is me. I’m a traditional Sandwich)
• Club Sandwich: Adults in their 50s or 60s caught in the middle of three generations—caring for aging parents, adult children, and grandchildren—or those supporting aging parents, their own children, and grandparents.
• Open Sandwich: Younger adults or those approaching retirement who are not caring for children, but are simultaneously supporting aging parents and young adult children.

There is even MORE for Google AI.

The Core Challenges

Those in this demographic face unique pressures that often require careful balancing:

• Financial Strain: Covering simultaneous expenses, such as college tuition for kids and medical bills or assisted living costs for parents.
• Time Management: Juggling a full-time career with coordinating medical appointments, daily living assistance, and childcare.
• Burnout & Stress: Because energy is divided between aging parents and growing children, these caregivers are at a high risk for physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion.

Google AI ain’t lying! So, welcome to my new home about the survival, the stress, the highs and the lows of the Sandwich Generation – who also happens to also deal with menopause, migraines, two dogs, one sibling, two kids, one mother who lives with them, starting a new business, working two other jobs, trying to grow my dog’s TikTok, therapy, ketamine, and just trying to survive the groundhog days of never ending life.

This blog will be about life. Some of it will be funny. Some of it will be serious. But, no matter what, it will be real and honest. If you do come along for the ride, great. If not, cool. I know blogs aren’t ‘cool’ anymore. But, the most enjoyment I have had was when I first had a mommy humor blog, second had a divorce blog, third had a Houston is good blog. Now, I am going to have this one.

Sanity is everything. Therapy is expensive. Blogging is free.