<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[The Sandwhich Generation]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Sandwhich Genera]]></description><link>https://www.thesandwichedgen.com/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Wed, 05 Aug 2026 23:06:28 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://barbarastratte.wixsite.com/the-sandwhich-genera/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[Is Alzheimer's Fear Running in the Back of Your Mind? You're Not Alone - Here's What We're Actually Doing About It]]></title><description><![CDATA[By Barbara Stratte | Middle Age Management Podcast Let me just say it out loud, because I think a lot of us are thinking it but nobody wants to say it first. When you're watching your parent disappear a little more every day, repeating the same questions, asking to go home when they're already home, looking at you with eyes that used to know you, the fear creeps in. Is this going to be me? If that thought has ever crossed your mind, hi friend. I see you. I am you. My mom has Alzheimer's. She...]]></description><link>https://barbarastratte.wixsite.com/the-sandwhich-genera/post/is-alzheimer-s-fear-running-in-the-back-of-your-mind-you-re-not-alone-here-s-what-we-re-actually</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a2b2f3944c7bef1d02b3ee2</guid><pubDate>Thu, 11 Jun 2026 22:07:53 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Barbara Stratte</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[When Should My Parent Stop Living Alone? 5 Signs You Need to Act Now]]></title><description><![CDATA[If you've typed "when should my parent stop living alone" into a search bar lately,maybe at midnight, maybe while your kids were at school, maybe in a quiet moment of panic, we see you. And we need to tell you something important: the fact that you're Googling it might already be your answer. We're not saying this to scare you. We're saying it because we've lived it. Bryan watched his dad decline into full-time memory care. Barbara's mom lives with them right now, in their home, navigating...]]></description><link>https://barbarastratte.wixsite.com/the-sandwhich-genera/post/when-should-my-parent-stop-living-alone-5-signs-you-need-to-act-now</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a202fe11eb41e7885ff9f82</guid><pubDate>Wed, 03 Jun 2026 14:24:18 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Barbara Stratte</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[When Your Aging Parent Refuses Help: 7 Real Strategies That Actually Work]]></title><description><![CDATA[You're not imagining it and you're definitely not alone. You've noticed the signs. Maybe it's the dents on the garage door. The bills piling up in a confusing pile. The exhaustion in their eyes after climbing one flight of stairs. You know your aging parent needs more support but every time you bring it up, you hit a wall. "I'm fine." "I don't need anyone." "Stop worrying about me." Sound familiar? According to research, 77% of adult children report that their aging parent is resistant to...]]></description><link>https://barbarastratte.wixsite.com/the-sandwhich-genera/post/when-your-aging-parent-refuses-help-7-real-strategies-that-actually-work</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a1623092a9023e233359860</guid><pubDate>Wed, 27 May 2026 03:53:58 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Barbara Stratte</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Your Morning Is Either Working For You or Against You: The Midlife Wake Up Call Nobody Talks AboutWhy the first 30 minutes of your day are controlling everything, and what to do about it]]></title><description><![CDATA[Most of us are waking up and immediately handing our entire day over to everyone else. The phone lights up. The texts roll in. The emails are already stacking. The kids need something. And before our feet have barely hit the floor we're already behind, already reactive, already running on someone else's agenda instead of our own. And then we wonder why by 3pm we're completely depleted, snapping at the people we love most, and going to bed feeling like the day just happened to us instead of...]]></description><link>https://barbarastratte.wixsite.com/the-sandwhich-genera/post/your-morning-is-either-working-for-you-or-against-you-the-midlife-wake-up-call-nobody-talks-aboutwh</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69f115dd7475e016cb94e9da</guid><pubDate>Tue, 28 Apr 2026 20:26:21 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Barbara Stratte</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Talk You’re Avoiding With Your Aging Parents (And Why It Can’t Wait)]]></title><description><![CDATA[This is the conversation nobody wants to have. Talking to your aging parents about money feels uncomfortable, invasive… and a little like crossing a line. But avoiding it? That’s where things get messy, fast. Because here’s the reality: 1 in 5 seniors are being targeted by scams. And most families don’t realize there’s a problem until it’s already one. Why This Conversation Feels So Hard Your parents grew up in a different time. Money was private. Independence was everything. And needing...]]></description><link>https://barbarastratte.wixsite.com/the-sandwhich-genera/post/the-talk-you-re-avoiding-with-your-aging-parents-and-why-it-can-t-wait</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69cc02d8c69c7f728436f1c9</guid><pubDate>Tue, 31 Mar 2026 18:08:09 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Barbara Stratte</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[How to talk to your parent about dementia testing. Warning signs, conversation scripts, and what to do next. Real caregiver advice.]]></title><description><![CDATA[My beautiful mom, Bette. Are you wondering if your parent's memory problems are serious? Not every forgotten name means dementia. But here's what isn't  normal aging: Early Warning Signs of Dementia: Memory &#38; Thinking: ✅ Repeating the same question multiple times in one conversation ✅ Forgetting common words or substituting wrong words ("hand me the food thing" instead of "fork") ✅ Getting lost in familiar places (grocery store they've been to 1,000 times) ✅ Difficulty following simple...]]></description><link>https://barbarastratte.wixsite.com/the-sandwhich-genera/post/how-to-talk-to-your-parent-about-dementia-testing-warning-signs-conversation-scripts-and-what-to</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69b31669a7843f58b682b394</guid><pubDate>Thu, 12 Mar 2026 19:45:45 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1fe4f8_af88ff3df4854282897f4ef1e04f5b60~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_803,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Barbara Stratte</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[They're Still Here. So Why Does It Hurt So Much? The Grief Nobody Talks About]]></title><description><![CDATA[A guide to grieving your parents while they're still alive and finding connection in the hardest season. I picked up my mom's fork this morning. It was covered in jam. Not just the tip, the entire handle. And I knew: her hands were probably covered too. Just like when my kids were toddlers and everything was sticky chaos. That's when it hit me: The circle of life isn't a concept anymore. It's my daily reality. My mom forgot Sally's name this morning. Sally, who's been here four days a week....]]></description><link>https://barbarastratte.wixsite.com/the-sandwhich-genera/post/they-re-still-here-so-why-does-it-hurt-so-much-the-grief-nobody-talks-about</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69aee4b8053d59350a13efc5</guid><pubDate>Tue, 10 Mar 2026 15:27:58 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1fe4f8_db0a80b9c90f45bfa032214b3933e047~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Barbara Stratte</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Emergency Prep Guide for Aging Parents (That Might Save Your Sanity)]]></title><description><![CDATA[Because the worst time to figure out where the important documents are is during the crisis. Let me tell you about the night I got THE CALL. "Your mom fell. She's at the hospital." My heart stopped. My brain started racing. What medications is she on? Who's her doctor? Does she have a living will? WHERE IS HER INSURANCE CARD? I was scrambling through drawers at midnight, trying to piece together information I should have had organized months earlier. Don't be me that night. Because e...]]></description><link>https://barbarastratte.wixsite.com/the-sandwhich-genera/post/the-emergency-prep-guide-for-aging-parents-that-might-save-your-sanity</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69aa2cc77fac2e2861fc9a15</guid><pubDate>Fri, 06 Mar 2026 02:07:25 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Barbara Stratte</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Guilt Trap: Why You Feel Bad No Matter What You Do (And How to Finally Break Free)]]></title><description><![CDATA[Stop apologizing for existing: A guide to breaking free from chronic guilt in midlife Yesterday, I hit a wall. I'd worked out in the morning, powered through some tasks, and then, boom. My body felt like it was carrying 50 extra pounds. I looked at my husband and said, "I think I need to take a nap." His response? "Then do it." Mine? "But I should  be doing this. I feel bad if I don't..." Sound familiar? Because there's always something to do.  Work stuff. Life stuff. Kid stuff. Parent stuff....]]></description><link>https://barbarastratte.wixsite.com/the-sandwhich-genera/post/the-guilt-trap-why-you-feel-bad-no-matter-what-you-do-and-how-to-finally-break-free</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69a60d722b1318a2485358a5</guid><pubDate>Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:37:43 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Barbara Stratte</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[What If It All Goes Wrong? (And Why You’re Still a Total Badass)]]></title><description><![CDATA[What if you lose your job? What if money runs out? What if everything you’ve worked for just… falls apart? If you’re in midlife, raising kids, maybe caring for aging parents, watching layoffs hit every industry these “what if” thoughts don’t feel dramatic. They feel real. And heavy. I was at a fundraiser recently and asked a friend how she was doing. She paused before answering. “Well… I have a job. I’m grateful for that.” And I could feel it. The weight. The uncertainty. The quiet fear so...]]></description><link>https://barbarastratte.wixsite.com/the-sandwhich-genera/post/what-if-it-all-goes-wrong-and-why-you-re-still-a-total-badass</link><guid isPermaLink="false">699497e6a8ff0d3b097fe9ad</guid><pubDate>Tue, 17 Feb 2026 16:40:42 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1fe4f8_7913d5c9c92b4341a0bd9dcd2ca86592~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Barbara Stratte</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[If Not Now, When? The Midlife Question That Changes Everything]]></title><description><![CDATA[There’s a moment in midlife that hits you out of nowhere. Sometimes it’s quiet.Sometimes it’s loud.And sometimes it feels like a harsh slap of reality across the face. If not now… when? That question can scare you.It  can motivate you.Or it can quietly plant a seed that keeps tapping you on the shoulder until you finally listen. Midlife has a funny way of doing that. Bryan and I starting our Middle Age Management podcast. Midlife Isn’t a Crisis — It’s a Crossroads Let’s be clear: midlife...]]></description><link>https://barbarastratte.wixsite.com/the-sandwhich-genera/post/if-not-now-when-the-midlife-question-that-changes-everything</link><guid isPermaLink="false">698a556dc54aab42f41cc264</guid><pubDate>Mon, 09 Feb 2026 23:31:07 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1fe4f8_5f1695da84434148995fc3a5d45863c9~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Barbara Stratte</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why Receiving Is a Skill We All Need to Relearn in Midlife]]></title><description><![CDATA[And how letting it in can change your relationships, your energy, and your days. There’s a phrase we kept coming back to in this episode of Middle Age Management : As good as it feels to receive, it feels just as good to give. And once you really understand that, everything changes. Because suddenly you realize: When you don’t  receive,whether it’s a compliment, help, ease, or generosity, you’re not being humble. You’re quietly blocking connection. And most of us don’t even know we’re doing...]]></description><link>https://barbarastratte.wixsite.com/the-sandwhich-genera/post/why-receiving-is-a-skill-we-all-need-to-relearn-in-midlife</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69812807396306036ecdf00e</guid><pubDate>Mon, 02 Feb 2026 23:02:41 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1fe4f8_0e96f54bd01e49998fcf8dc3fcecaa43~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_640,h_640,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Barbara Stratte</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The 51% Rule: Why You Don't Need to Be Perfect to Be Enough]]></title><description><![CDATA[Permission to stop drowning in the name of doing it all I remember the exact moment my life changed. Not in some big, dramatic way - but in the quiet, life-saving kind of way that makes you realize you've been holding your breath for years. I was drowning. Three kids under seven. A traveling husband. And me, white-knuckling my way through every single day trying to be the "amazing mom" I thought I was supposed to be. That's when Nanette -an angel-on-earth kind of human who led our parent...]]></description><link>https://barbarastratte.wixsite.com/the-sandwhich-genera/post/the-51-rule-why-you-don-t-need-to-be-perfect-to-be-enough</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6979089466503bc679d16a49</guid><pubDate>Tue, 27 Jan 2026 18:55:43 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Barbara Stratte</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[When Siblings Clash Over Aging Parents: The Guilt, Gratitude, and Grace No One Talks About]]></title><description><![CDATA[Unqualified.Unsolicited.And totally honest opinions on midlife and being in the Sandwich Generation. Let’s talk about something no one really warns you about, but almost everyone in midlife eventually faces: Sibling dynamics + aging parents. Because somehow, just when you think you’ve outgrown childhood roles…Boom. You’re right back in them, only now the stakes are higher, emotions are raw, and everyone’s exhausted. Welcome to the sandwich generation. The Sibling Blow-Up I Never Saw Coming My...]]></description><link>https://barbarastratte.wixsite.com/the-sandwhich-genera/post/when-siblings-clash-over-aging-parents-the-guilt-gratitude-and-grace-no-one-talks-about</link><guid isPermaLink="false">696fc4c45c4545eab7d5c7d4</guid><pubDate>Tue, 20 Jan 2026 18:13:18 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Barbara Stratte</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[When You Realize Something Is Off With Your Parents: A Sandwich Generation Wake-Up Call]]></title><description><![CDATA[There’s a moment no one prepares you for. You’re not gently easing into helping your parents.You ’re not slowly noticing tiny changes over years. You’re coming in 60 miles per hour . Your parent falls.They land in the hospital.You  open the fridge and find expired food. Mail is stacked up.They repeat the same story three times in ten minutes. And suddenly your stomach drops. “Oh… something’s changed.” My mom at breakfast with the rainbow from one of her glass pieces. Makes her smile every...]]></description><link>https://barbarastratte.wixsite.com/the-sandwhich-genera/post/when-you-realize-something-is-off-with-your-parents-a-sandwich-generation-wake-up-call</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6966bdf8e0a666a18e6b8370</guid><pubDate>Tue, 13 Jan 2026 21:58:17 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1fe4f8_1abde806ee6b4ea18acbb5ccd375aa8e~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Barbara Stratte</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[New Year, Less Pressure: Why Micro Wins Beat Big Resolutions Every Time]]></title><description><![CDATA[I am just going to say it.  New  Year’s is wildly overrated. The hype. The pressure. The “this is going to be magical” expectations that somehow always end with celebrating at 9pm, wearing pajamas, and calling it a win (honestly, it is  a win). But it’s not even the night that gets us  it’s the New Year mindset . You know the one: New Year. New You. Big goals. Big swings. Big promises. And somehow… a whole lot of burnout by February. If you’re in midlife,  juggling kids, work, aging parents,...]]></description><link>https://barbarastratte.wixsite.com/the-sandwhich-genera/post/new-year-less-pressure-why-micro-wins-beat-big-resolutions-every-time</link><guid isPermaLink="false">695ec1cd02fef142333ca096</guid><pubDate>Wed, 07 Jan 2026 20:50:42 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1fe4f8_fa982a4b7eed424bbd6f31194d1da1b3~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Barbara Stratte</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Happiness in the Chaos: Why 51% Is Enough]]></title><description><![CDATA[Let’s be honest: midlife isn’t exactly calm. It’s loud. It’s emotional. It’s messy.Kids need things. Parents need things. Work needs things. Life throws emotional dodgeballs daily. And yet… happiness still matters. In a recent episode of Middle Age Management Podcast , we asked a deceptively simple question: “Do you feel happy?” Not all the time . Not Instagram happy .Just… more often than not. And that’s where the magic lives. Happiness Isn’t a Destination, It’s a Daily Decision There’s a...]]></description><link>https://barbarastratte.wixsite.com/the-sandwhich-genera/post/happiness-in-the-chaos-why-51-is-enough</link><guid isPermaLink="false">695ebcc225d7db7b1ba20f65</guid><pubDate>Wed, 07 Jan 2026 20:18:48 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1fe4f8_1b72105be296485dab7d175bc60b9749~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Barbara Stratte</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Midlife Friendships Are Changing, And No, You Didn’t Do Anything Wrong]]></title><description><![CDATA[If you’ve found yourself lately thinking, “Why does friendship feel… different?” you’re not imagining it and you’re definitely not alone. Midlife friendships are having a moment. A big one. And not because anyone did something wrong, but because everything else is changing at the same time . Kids are growing up. Parents are aging. Careers are shifting. Some people are starting over. Some people are slowing down. Some people are finally asking, “What do I want now?” That’s a lot for any...]]></description><link>https://barbarastratte.wixsite.com/the-sandwhich-genera/post/midlife-friendships-are-changing-and-no-you-didn-t-do-anything-wrong</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6951be0d82b4264136446192</guid><pubDate>Sun, 28 Dec 2025 23:45:30 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1fe4f8_908b3735131d4574afb40f548e483003~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Barbara Stratte</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Microdosing Joy: The Everyday Practice That Brings Your Energy Back (Especially in the Sandwich Generation)]]></title><description><![CDATA[Taking in nature is a quick joy dose If you’re caring for aging parents and  raising kids while also trying to drink enough water, keep the house standing, and maybe, just maybe, have a single thought to yourself… you don’t need a lecture on self-care. You need something that actually fits your life . This is where microdosing joy  comes in. No, it’s not a trend, a gimmick, or something you need to buy. It’s the tiny, intentional pockets of joy you weave into your day so you don’t lose...]]></description><link>https://barbarastratte.wixsite.com/the-sandwhich-genera/post/microdosing-joy-the-everyday-practice-that-brings-your-energy-back-especially-in-the-sandwich-gene</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69406cb4d19d766cc63e9368</guid><pubDate>Mon, 15 Dec 2025 20:28:42 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1fe4f8_fff263856ab04793b832950770bfaaca~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Barbara Stratte</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[ The Holidays Are Coming… Everyone Remain Calm]]></title><description><![CDATA[If you’ve ever found yourself screaming “SMILE!” at your family during the annual Christmas card photo while simultaneously questioning every life choice you’ve ever made… welcome, friend. You are one of us. And this week on the Middle Age Management  podcast, Bryan and I dove straight into the belly of the holiday beast. Expectations, childhood scars, the obsession with “magic,” and why the Joneses are absolutely faking it.  Why Do Holidays Bring Out Everything ? Say the word holidays  and...]]></description><link>https://barbarastratte.wixsite.com/the-sandwhich-genera/post/the-holidays-are-coming-everyone-remain-calm</link><guid isPermaLink="false">691bd062dd35cb65e8692553</guid><pubDate>Tue, 18 Nov 2025 02:13:03 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1fe4f8_d4faefbebe114ec39c3a17b5fd8ddda1~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Barbara Stratte</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>