Parenting Parents - 8 Tips For Managing the Responsibility of Sandwich Generation Parents

As we enter that zone of parenting our parents, the value of our knowledge and understanding the purpose of re-parenting becomes a hazing secret to the fraternal order of Sandwich Generation Parents. A full-time single mom doesn’t have time for working, teaching kids, raising kids and re-parenting parents who should be mature and okay on their own, but she has to take the time.

These simple tips for managing the responsibility of Sandwich Generation Parents should help you with the problems surrounding this situation.

1 - Organize Managed Care Programs

Don’t try to care for aging parents alone. Get help to do the menial jobs, like cleaning, housekeeping, yard care, and other non-personal care items should be taken care of by others, so you can have more time to care for the personal care items where your personal touch is needed.

2 - Plan for Physical & Mental Activities

Encourage parents, just like children, to turn off the television and use their brains and bodies. Hours in front of the television deteriorate more than just their bodies, it destroys their minds. Start crossword puzzles, include household chores they can easily accomplish on their own or with the children. Motivate your parents to spend time with kids, for their own benefit.

3 - Schedule & Order

In the most hectic times a well organized schedule and orderly home life will keep you sane and help you get everything accomplished. List doctor appointments and medicine in your calendar and be sure your schedules mesh with work time. Leave enough room on your schedule for daily down time and plan time away with your children.

4 - Involve Friends

Maintaining outside relationships can be difficult when parents are around, but make sure you include time for friends and gatherings in your home, even when your parents live with you. Have a party and include your parent’s friends, invite them over for dinner or a house party to share the day. Play some games that will help them all to get to know each other better.

5 - Maintain a Life

This is important, because if you don’t maintain your own life and keep some time apart for you, you’ll begin to lose focus on your own identity. Whether you have a job away from home or simply work out time to spend on your own needs, you need to maintain a separate life for yourself. Quiet time alone refuels you.

6 - Fill Up Your Resource List

Maintain a good solid list of steady resources for yourself and your family. These will include friends to lean on when necessary, people to care for you when you’re sick, back up for your children’s care or parental care when you’ve got an emergency. Be sure you have some cash saved back in this manner for those last minute crisis that happen.

7 - Plan for the Future

This is important, because if you don’t plan for the future, your parents will be gone, your kids will be grown and the nest will be empty. You’ll have no plan and be a lost entity whose life is done. Be sure you have a plan for your own future too.

Everyone needs a backup plan. If you’re a single parent caring for elderly parents yourself, you’ll want to consider your options.