I need my herbal tea to go, please.
One thing that bugs me when I read articles meant for the Sandwich Generation is the well-meaning advice to “take care of yourself”. Actually, I may have even used that line myself on here, but, it’s an easy filler when you are looking for something to write.
With a few exceptions, most people don’t want to deny themselves, go for days without sleeping, or, shove potato chips in their mouths for 3 meals in a row, but, quite frankly, in a caregiving situation, you don’t always have time to gaze longingly out the window at the rain while wearing a cozy sweater and holding a steaming cup of herbal tea (media portrayal of “taking care of yourself”).
Maybe I’m just being crabby, but, there are times, especially when you are responsible for both the elderly and young children, when you really are the only one that can do what needs to be done, and, it’s hard. And, it takes all of your time.
Sure, you have to find support where you can get it, that’s where offering specific help to someone who is a caregiver is so important. But, sometimes, even though we really do want to take care of ourselves, true relief can’t always be found, and, it’s just a fact.
Tags: Caregivng, sandwich-generationRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Caregiver
1 opinion for I need my herbal tea to go, please.
Paul
Nov 29, 2006 at 6:46 am
Allow me to put my graduate-from-the-sandwich-generation hat on for a second and expand on the meaning of ‘take care of yourself’. We tend to think in terms of physical well-being as being the principle focus of personal care and somehow lose site of the importance of a caregiver’s mental health. Just making yourself more ‘aware’ that your mental health is important is a good start…then fiigure out what taking care of your mental health means becomes a little easier.
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