People in their middle years
are literally “sandwiched” between the needs and wants of their parents and
grandparents, and the needs of their own children and grandchildren. With the average American living longer,
children caring for aging parents while welcoming their own adult children back
into the fold, are not an uncommon. The challenges associated with
multigenerational families are focused on finding ways to meet individual as well as family needs. The article promotes several salient ideas
that are well worth considering:
- Take care of yourself first. If you don’t tend to your own physical,
emotional, social, and spiritual needs, you will burn out.
- Don’t try to do it all. We all need help and cooperation and it
is okay to go outside of the family circle to find it. You will never be able to be all things
to all people.
- Don’t try to parent your parents or
grandparents. You have to let elders
function as adults. Let them be
independent and decision making adults as long as they can.
- Let your kids grow up and let them help your
parents, and at the same time let your parents help you with your
kids. It is a win-win situation and
you will all be better people because of it.
- Cherish each moment. The work may seem insurmountable at
times, but there will also be moments of enrichment and joy.
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