Patch Blog: July is a Month to Celebrate the Sandwich Generation!

They are absolutely everywhere. With almost 66 million of them in America, they come in all shapes, sizes and colors. They even have their own “recognition” month in July. Just last week, I encountered three of those folks in our very own Montrose community! Are you curious to hear who “they” are?

I would like to introduce you to the hard working members of the Sandwich Generation. They are busy women who are not only caring for their minor children, but they are also overseeing the care of their elderly parents. In general, people providing this type of care are women averaging 49 years of age and in addition to holding down a job outside of the home; provide 20 hours of elder care per week. Wow, I think we need to add more hours in a week to handle that much work!

Burnout and isolation are common elements in a Sandwich Mama’s life and any type of support is much appreciated! With millions of Sandwiches out there, the probability is high that you interface with these overloaded women in your neighborhood, community, place of worship or workplace. Even though Sandwich Generation Month is almost completed, you can still show these multi-tasking gals some kindness the other eleven months of the year! Here are some ideas to get you started:

Offer to host a play date. Invite the kids o’ Sandwich Mama to your home to allow her some much needed alone time. You have no idea how reenergizing a couple of hours of focused time can be.

Provide a meal. Nothing says that you care better than a tasty dinner. You do not have to go to extremes; just a simple pasta salad or casserole will reduce your friend’s meal planning time.

Create coupons. It is often difficult for Sandwich Mamas to ask for help. You can print out some cute coupons for offers to pick up her dry cleaning, drop a kid to practice or even an invitation for a shoulder to cry on when needed.

Get them out. Arrange a short trip to a coffee shop for a beverage and gab session to lift her spirits.

Pick up the phone. Check in with your Sandwich friend occasionally to make sure she is okay. Pay close attention to assess if she is feeling overwhelmed or handling the balancing act appropriately.

Send a note. Write out a cheery card to let your friend know you care.

Give the gift of music. Burn a CD of soothing or uplifting music and give it to your Sandwich friend.

If you are in the middle of the Sandwich Generation, I applaud your hard work and commitment to your family. I would also like to invite you to my site, Simply Sandwich, for tips, practical ideas and just plain old survival skills!