I Am A Sandwich

June 24, 2013

My generation is frequently referred to as the sandwich generation, with one generation of small children at home, responsibility for caring for ailing parents, and the need to work full time in the face of pensions that have long gone by the wayside.  Right now, I am a sandwich.  I am THE sandwich stuffing in my family.

My dad is in failing health, with Parkinson’s.  I am constantly needed for decisions, large and small.  Everyone turns to me to make those decisions- my family, my dad’s caregivers, and the medical professionals who surround him.  The sheer number of decisions I have to make on a daily basis is nearly overwhelming.  Today, I moved him to another facility to better meet his needs.  I had to decide what will move with him to his new apartment, what furniture to move, what not to move, how to store things, and even decide what he will eat, and when during certain phases of the move.  Things still didn’t go as smoothly as planned, but we got the old apartment unloaded, and dad moved along with his kitties.

On the other side of my sandwich, I have four kids.  I am pretty sure that very little in my house happens unless I poke and prod at it.  Fortunately, I do have a spouse who is really helpful, and is quite capable of helping run the household.  But there are certain things that still fall under my domain.  Those things include helping my oldest daughter with her Girl Scout Gold Award, running my Girl Scout Troops, and helping my younger daughter plan and model her Girl Scout Silver Award.  Since my kids are normal kids, there is a certain amount of reminding them to bathe, eat, and do things.  Throw in a couple of major projects, and I have to make sure that things keep flowing, and that work continues, even when I want to curl up and go to sleep in a corner.

In the middle of my sandwich, I’ve got my job.  Since I manage a group of interns and lab techs, my job is very interrupt driven.  I have to poke people, and influence people in other groups help ours in a timely manner. I have to be there to watch, give feedback, gather status, and make sure that things are staying on track, much like Dad and the Kids.  If I’m not there, it all seems to wait for me to come back and deal with it.

I really do feel like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich some days- with extra jelly squishing out the sides.  I am a sandwich!

Categories

More Posts:

Nyago Michael Emmanuel

We invite many people who can invest in our Akiba Ya umoja community benefit savings and investment group of Uganda to enable us expand our operations in Uganda

Women’s Fitness Tips: How to Make Time for Exercise in Your Super-Busy Schedule

We’ve all gone down the social media rabbit hole during a lazy Sunday afternoon. Among the sea of influencers, we’ve also probably seen one that seems to have everything – the dream job, the perfect home, and, above all, time to fit a workout into her super-busy...

6 Ways to be a SUPER Mom

Mothers are the strongest. They carry a child, bear the pain of birthing, bring children up, fulfill all responsibilities, play several roles, and make it look oh so easy. That’s why we have given mothers the title of super mom. Society expects mothers to be...

Mental Health Issues That Business Women Should Pay Attention To

Unfortunately, business is traditionally considered a male occupation because it involves risk, fierce competition, the need to make unpopular decisions and work 24/7. There is a stereotype that a woman is by nature softer, more responsible, and more prone to worries...

5 Tools to Help You Optimize Your Time Management

Whether you’re a freelancer, remote employee, or project manager, you’re bound to be juggling multiple tasks at any given time. Your typical workday can easily take a chaotic turn if you don’t manage your time properly. That’s why time management is one of the...

Work-Life Balance- Practical Advice For Busy Women

Achieving a work-life balance is perhaps the most daunting task for professionals, but the challenge gets even tougher for busy women. Your struggle never seems to end, as you try to switch roles between a professional, homemaker, and mommy. Whether you work from home...

Dealing With The Stress Of Being A Mom-Entrepreneur

Being a boss lady takes a lot of time, consistency, passion, and dedication. However, many people think it all comes to a screeching halt once women have a baby. It couldn’t be farther from the truth because some of the trailblazers in the economy are strong women who...

Simple Ways to Deal with Stress at Work

It doesn’t matter what you do, how old you are, and where you work - feeling stressed out at work is one of the most natural things in the world right now. This is something we all feel from time to time, and it’s almost impossible to find a job that’s completely...

8 Tips to Better Manage Your Work & Family Life

Are you constantly wondering how to be a thriving entrepreneur and an equally successful mum? If you've had trouble juggling work and family life, we've got news for you – you're not the only one. Millions of women around the world are dealing with the same issues and...

Tips for Moms Who Work From Home

For working moms, the job is difficult as their responsibilities include parenting and taking care of their kids. Read about the tips on how moms working from home can achieve a better work-life balance.

Nyago Michael Emmanuel

Nyago Michael Emmanuel

We invite many people who can invest in our Akiba Ya umoja community benefit savings and investment group of Uganda to enable us expand our operations in Uganda

All Categories

Business Operations

Entrepreneur Interviews

Marketing, Networking, & Social Media

Self Care & Personal Development

Working Moms

Business Software and Technology

Entrepreneurship & Small Business

Organizing Tips

Sales

Career Building

Family Businesses

Inspiration

Starting Your Own Business

Work-Life Balance

Communication

Hiring Help

Management & Leadership

Time Management & Priorities

Women in Leadership

Recent Posts

Elements That Should Be Part of Your Company Retreat

Elements That Should Be Part of Your Company Retreat

A company retreat is an excellent opportunity for team-building, learning new skills, and fostering relationships between colleagues. Whether your team is large or small, a well-planned retreat can be an invaluable investment in your company's success. We will explore...

How to Make Employee Health a Priority

How to Make Employee Health a Priority

Prioritizing employee health is crucial for creating a healthy and productive work environment. By investing in the health and wellbeing of your employees, you can improve morale, reduce absenteeism, and build a positive company culture. Here are some tips on how to...

Why You Should Run Your Business on the Latest Technology

Why You Should Run Your Business on the Latest Technology

In today's fast-paced business environment, keeping up with technological advancements is essential for success. Implementing the latest technology can offer numerous benefits, such as improved productivity, enhanced data security, and reduced costs.  Improve...

What are local links and how to earn them

What are local links and how to earn them

What local links are and how they might assist local businesses develop an efficient SEO strategy are covered in this article. Local links allow visitors to learn more about a region and its businesses by connecting websites from the same area that are relevant to one another. They must be pertinent to the neighbourhood and offer valuable resources or information. Content marketing, reviews, sponsored content, social media, and directories are all ways to generate local links.

Ways for Increasing Property Management Lead Generation

Ways for Increasing Property Management Lead Generation

Property management is not a simple job, there are multiple tasks that a property manager should complete for various property investors. Marketing is one of the difficult parts, but it’s crucial. You can only attract tenants to your property and gain income after you have generated leads. Therefore, you should try your best to come up with smart and effective strategies to get your company known.