What do you do when you are a busy mom to 3 kids ranging from preschool to tween, work a full time job and have the position of being stuck smack in the middle of the sandwich generation? Why, you blog of course! These days not only are women looking for outlets for their many roles, many other women are looking to them for guidance, support or just simply someone who understands.
A prime example is BlogHer member BusyMom. We all know her by her blog BusyMom.net, but in her "free" (and I cannot believe I used the word free without laughing) time, did you know she contributes to many other blogs? One of these blogs is near and dear to my heart as I passed the torch to her when I realized I just wasn't the right person at the right time for that blog.
The blog is GenBetween where Elizabeth tackles everything that a member of the sandwich generation goes through. From taking care of doctors appointments to checking up and making sure your parent is following up with medications. Being a part of the sandwich generation is hard. Damn hard. Unless you have walked in those shoes, it is hard to know that. Yet, with the wit and wisdom that we have come to know and love from Elizabeth, she shares her experiences. She is not afraid to bring up the tough issues and help the rest of us gain knowledge from her experiences.
It really is hard to talk about, I know. I had to ask my mother directly the details of what she wanted if she were to stop breathing when there was a real possibility that could have occured during that conversation. I’m pretty sure she didn’t really want to have that conversation, either. As a child, it’s hard to deliberately bring up topics that clearly make you parents uncomfortable, but, you need to get as much information as you can.
She is right on. Open. Honest. And not afraid of the tough issues.
So we have mom covered and the sandwich generation covered. What about her career? (As in, how does she do it?) Well, first of all she blogs about it. Yes, she has time to BLOG about it at Career and Kids. (NOW I know why she is BUSY mom. Maybe she should be WowSheIsCrazyBusyMom. Not quite the ring, but it fits.)
She recently wrote about her transitioning from work to home life in a way that really touched me.
Sometimes, I’m bad about thinking the kids are so absorbed in their evening activities of homework, or, whatever, that they won’t notice if I’m stressed about other things, but, they do. I have been making a concerted effort to remember that my work isn’t their problem, and, they deserve me to be refreshed (or as refreshed as I can be) and ready for dinner, conversation, homework and bedtime.
But not leaving it with just how she feels, she offers ways to adjust to the change. Her ability to multi-task blows me away.
So, if you are a working mom or a member of the Sandwich Generation or you just really like good blog reads, I highly recommend you go check out BusyMom and her GenBetween and Career and Kids blogs. You will thank me. Really. You will!
BlogHer Contributing Editor Jenn Satterwhite also blogs at Mommy Needs Coffee, Mommybloggers and Aggroqueen.
Comments
You are very nice. And
You are very nice. And pretty. And you smell good.
Busy Mom Blog
Busy - It's Not Just For Dinner
www.nkygal.blogspot.com
Thanks for the post. I had not heard of the Sandwhich generation before, but I think I am part of it. I am a 31 year old mother of two with a full time job out side of the home. My mother in law lives with us and we care for her (she had bi-lateral strokes about 5 years ago). I never knew that there might be a whole group of women out there experiencing the same thing.
Great post. Thanks.