Many moms find themselves in the sandwich generation, having to care for both young and older family members at the same time. As such, to stop yourself from feeling overwhelmed or even resentful of the family members that need your care, here are some of the best tips that you should follow.
· Look at Assisted Living Facilities
Sometimes, caring for both your children and elderly parents can be too much, and you might struggle to juggle both responsibilities and to give the best care possible to each person. If so, to make sure that your elderly relatives are well looked after while you focus on your kids, you might consider looking into assisted living Fort Lauderdale. These facilities can ensure that your parents have a great quality of life even when they can no longer be independent, without you having to help them 24/7.
· Involve the Kids
However, as well as being people who need a little bit of extra care, your kids are also likely to want to visit your elderly parents, even if this is just to tell them about their day. If so, rather than seeing looking after your children and elderly parents as separate bullet points on your to-do list, you can tick off both at the same time by taking your children along to their grandparents’ house. If this is not possible, you might then consider looking at the cost of a babysitter who can play with and take care of your kids while you are with your own parents.
· Look After Yourself
That said, to ensure that you can look after the generations around you, you need to take care of yourself. If you fall ill or become overwhelmed, you may find that you are unable to give your dependents the time and attention that they need. As such, you should eat healthily, stay active, and take ample time to focus on yourself and the activities that you enjoy. You should not feel guilty for doing this, but instead see it as time that you are taking to recharge so that you will be able to look after your kids and parents even better than before.
· Consider Your Workplace
On top of caring for kids and parents, many people in the sandwich generation also find that they have to go to work as well. As such, rather than struggle at work, you should talk to your employer about your situation. You may find that they are then able to give you the flexibility and time off that you need to check on your kids and parents and to be able to complete your work to a high standard. However, if you are struggling to manage a full-time job, you might consider opting to go freelance or to seek out a high-paying part-time job to support your family.
Although it can be difficult to belong to the sandwich generation, there are many steps that you can take to manage your time better and go easy on yourself, from eating healthily to looking at assisted living facilities.