This is such an important topic. I can only speak for myself, but so much of my life I ran on autopilot—purse "git-r-dun" mode. And when I finally had a moment to myself, it was complete depletion. No energy left for anything. The moment that hit hardest: my son saying to me, "The only thing you care about is work."
I'm at a different stage of life now—the sandwich generation, with my son grown but still needing attention and an aging parent who needs me too. The load just shifts shape but doesn't lighten. So this advice still holds true. Thank you for the reminder and for helping others find a new perspective on something many of us carry silently.
Isn’t it interesting how, in those hard moments, those unfiltered zingers from your kids can bring so much clarity? I’m guilty of that. I vividly remember, as a freshman in high school, telling my mom to ‘get a life and stay out of mine.’ Not the kindest thing to say, but it was the nudge (or shove) she needed, leading to 10 more years as an educator after a 15-year hiatus as a stay-at-home mom.
I always think of an iceberg or that saying on a car mirror, ‘objects in mirror are closer than they appear,’ as a good way to explain the difference between what we perceive as reality and the truth. No one really knows how much someone is dealing with behind the scenes.
It sounds like this stage of life has its challenges, different from before, but just as heavy. I've heard from friends how hard it can be as parents age, especially when it creates a role reversal in which you're parenting your parents. If using a three-bin sorting approach helps, let me know. I’m always hoping these practices are useful! 💜
Oh, my, this newsletter is packed with valuable advice that requires reading and rereading! I used to roll my eyes when educators would say, "Lifelong Learning." This month I turn 73; lifelong learning is real. My invisible load that's a keeper.
This is such an important topic. I can only speak for myself, but so much of my life I ran on autopilot—purse "git-r-dun" mode. And when I finally had a moment to myself, it was complete depletion. No energy left for anything. The moment that hit hardest: my son saying to me, "The only thing you care about is work."
I'm at a different stage of life now—the sandwich generation, with my son grown but still needing attention and an aging parent who needs me too. The load just shifts shape but doesn't lighten. So this advice still holds true. Thank you for the reminder and for helping others find a new perspective on something many of us carry silently.
Isn’t it interesting how, in those hard moments, those unfiltered zingers from your kids can bring so much clarity? I’m guilty of that. I vividly remember, as a freshman in high school, telling my mom to ‘get a life and stay out of mine.’ Not the kindest thing to say, but it was the nudge (or shove) she needed, leading to 10 more years as an educator after a 15-year hiatus as a stay-at-home mom.
I always think of an iceberg or that saying on a car mirror, ‘objects in mirror are closer than they appear,’ as a good way to explain the difference between what we perceive as reality and the truth. No one really knows how much someone is dealing with behind the scenes.
It sounds like this stage of life has its challenges, different from before, but just as heavy. I've heard from friends how hard it can be as parents age, especially when it creates a role reversal in which you're parenting your parents. If using a three-bin sorting approach helps, let me know. I’m always hoping these practices are useful! 💜
Oh, my, this newsletter is packed with valuable advice that requires reading and rereading! I used to roll my eyes when educators would say, "Lifelong Learning." This month I turn 73; lifelong learning is real. My invisible load that's a keeper.