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Welcome to a White Christmas at my Sandwich Generation home. I don't think you can tell from this shot, but it's snowing! Big fluffy white flurries that look delightful, have little build up, and even allow my senior mom the freedom to get the newspaper. My favorite kind of snow! 🙂
Juggling the Sandwich Generation issues of caring for elderly parents and helping with grandkids means that holiday decorating gets squished into the spare minutes here and there. I'm happy, though. I have MOST of the Harvest and Thanksgiving decorations put away.
The cute and unique handmade, store-bought, and inherited Christmas tree ornaments and decorations, full of sweet family memories, are sitting around the spare room in boxes – waiting for the grandkids to come help great-grandma and grandma decorate. Decorating activities for grandparents and grandchildren are a mixed blessing. Things won't get done perfectly, or even the way I might personally want them, but oh, the delightful family memories my senior mom (their great-grandmother) and I will treasure for years to come!
Of course, for those of us involved in caregiving, some years we may be dealing with too many health issues on the part of our senior parents – or ourselves – or both! Just getting a wreath on the front door may be all we can do at the holidays – and that's OK. I've learned to take each year one step at a time, one day at a time, maybe even one minute at a time. And give us all the grace to do nothing when that is necessary.
Some of our home decor may not be quite holiday-ish, like the mini exercise bike, the canes, and the lightweight walkers for seniors, but they do make great "tools of the trade" for elder caregivers, along with the grandkids' toys, games and books. You can definitely tell we have a total multi-generational Sandwich Generation "thang" going on here.
It's not always easy for our senior parents to relinquish control to their kids, those of us caring for these elderly parents. As my mom and I like to remind ourselves, it takes teamwork – and we make a good team! She is such a blessing to me as I strive to be a blessing to her. It ain't always perfect, but overall, it works well.
Hope you liked these Sandwich Generation holiday Sweet Shots from my easy to use digital camera (the only kind I have time for 🙂 ). You can find more at Sweet Shot Tuesday. And don't forget to pop over to Denise's for her Caregiving Holiday Progressive Blog Party at Caregiving.com. You'll find interesting people, lovely lights, and fun prizes. But first, be sure to leave a comment here for the SandwichINK Holiday Party giveaway!
Wonderful pics.
Having watched my parents walk my grandparents through their last years, this touches my heart. Love the hands.
I have always thought that would be the most difficult job! I absolutely ADORE the picture of the hands. That is so pretty. It tells a whole story. Beautiful!
Hi Kaye,
Thank you for sharing these pictures, and your wisdom about taking things a moment at a time. Such an important reminder for me, especially this Christmas as my mother’s needs have increased. Thank you for visiting caregiving.com as well during the blog party! and your insight about the soap for me this morning!–I didn’t know that, so thank you. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and are able to enjoy extra time with family and friends.
Thank you Laurel 🙂 🙂 🙂
Thanks, Life with Kaishon! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Hi Bette, Thank you! I’m so glad I mentioned the No Rinse Shampoo and No Rinse Body Bath. As I wrote on Caregiving Bathing Helps Like No Rinse Shampoo and Body Wash Great for Those of Us Caring For Elderly Parents, they have been such a blessing to us!