You fall into this generation if you are: anywhere between 35-55 years of age, caring for at least one aging parent and at the same time, caring for your own children—marriage is never in question just as long as you have these three basic qualifications. Sandwich generation or SandGen for some is when you are torn between your obligations to your aging parent and caring for your own growing kids. The explanation alone will tell you how hard your situation can be—that is, if you are not feeling it yet.
Being in the sandwich generation is hard especially if you are the primary caregiver. This should mean you are personally taking care of things for both generations such as school meetings for the kids and doctors’ appointments for the seniors. Studies show that those who are experiencing this type of arrangement are taking a lot of stress from almost all aspects of his or her being. Unfortunately, the sandwich generation is not strongly supported by the community, much less recognized.
Financially, most SandGens are experiencing a total crunch time just by balancing the household expenses. This situation can be greatly alleviated if a family member is sharing the expenses but it can get doubly worse if the SandGen in question is the sole provider for the whole family. Physically, taking everybody to and fro can take a toll to a person’s body. Some even say that it even feels like living inside their cars for the whole day and disorientation occurs on a regular basis. Not to mention looking after everyone and not having enough time for yourself. Then there’s the question of privacy, being in the SandGen will automatically put you in a situation wherein privacy is considered as a luxury. Here are some coping strategies for the sandwich generation to help ease the stress away:
· Seek help. It’s never bad to seek help when you need one and it won’t kill you either. Accepting help is not a sign of weakness but it can save you your sanity in the long run. Bear in mind that you are balancing three parties here: your parents, your kids and yourself—that is, if you stay unattached.
· Being in the SandGen can affect your relationships with other people. If you are married, expect it to undergo some changes, so does your social life. Time is never enough for the SandGen group and most of the time, this can be a potential root cause of a failed relationship. Although it is highly advisable for this generation to maintain healthy relationships, it will also take some more effort from your part.
· Practice stress management. A good stress management should help you identify your major and minor stressors and try to arrange them in a way that you won’t feel suffocated with one stressor after the other.
· Stress comes from your own reactions. Gauge your own responses to stress and try to control them before they actually manifest.
· If you are really determined in taking all the responsibilities then might as well look after your body too. How else would it maintain its peak performance if not for you?
