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Merry Christmas! It’s the holiday season – a sweet time of music, family, and holiday parties. For many caregivers, though, the parties may be too difficult to get to. Medication schedules, health needs, elderly anxiety…. The list can go on and on, can’t it? BUT, once again, Denise Brown and Caregiving.com have a grand solution for caregivers everywhere – their annual Holiday Progressive Blog Party! You get to come as you are, even if you are wearing cute bunny slippers. And there is NO cooking required! Now that’s a FUN party, don’t you think? 🙂 And, of course, SandwichINK for the Sandwich Generation is thrilled to again be a part of this season fun. So WELCOME! Pull up a chair, enjoy some yummy hot cocoa and and a delish donut
and enjoy!
As a full-fledged member of the Sandwich Generation (those caring for elderly parents while still raising kids or helping with grandkids), I stay very busy taking grand care of my real estate clients, writing, helping my senior mom, and babysitting adorable grandkids. It’s a non-stop life that I really do enjoy. Of course, there are plenty of difficult moments mixed in with the smiles and hugs but God is good and keeps me going and I’m so grateful!
My holiday activities are fewer this year as my grandkids are older and my schedule is fuller. So far, I still only have two ornaments on my Christmas tree but the lights do look lovely! I finally brought the boxes of ornaments in and plan to hang a few every time a loved one and I chat on the phone. Then, after Christmas, I’ll de-decorate the same way. I should be done by Valentine’s Day? 🙂 
However, if you and your kids or grandkids have more free time than me this year, here are some fun ideas for y’all:
- Christmas cookies are tasty fun
- Whether done for Christmas OR Christmas in July – wooden ornaments are popular with my grandkids
- Games are GRAND with the GRANDkids
- Easy Crafts Ideas for kids AND seniors
- Pinterest-ing Craft Ideas
- Even MORE holiday craft fun
And here’s a fun coloring page to print out for them to enjoy (for that matter, many of our beloved seniors enjoy coloring pictures as well. 🙂 )
If you or your elderly parents are having a tougher time during the holidays, a very common occurrence, these might be a blessing to you:
- Comfort and peace
- Dealing with grief and loss
- Words and music to comfort caregivers
- Christmas joy and strength
- Trials, Tribulations, and Tumbles
- Pinterest-ing comfort
- Fixed eyes
Are you looking for ways to de-stress your own holiday schedule – beyond decorating in slow motion, as I am doing? How about:
- Stay Ahead of Holiday Stress, Enjoy Fun With Grandkids, And Bring Joy to Beloved Elderly
- Holiday Tips and Tweets
- Duplication = Stress Relief
- Practical Resources for Caregivers
One of my favorite parts of Christmas is the lovely music. I’ve got some grand songs for you to enjoy. First – courtesy of Smilebox, Barlow Girls singing Carol of the Bells beautifully!
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- Also… Multigenerational Christmas Music Fun From Our Family To Yours
- Gloria
- How Many Kings
- Michael W Smith with Kay Thompson’s Jingle Bells
Thank you so much for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed your visit for the Caregiving Holiday Progressive Blog Party here at SandwichINK for the Sandwich Generation. Be sure to CLICK HERE to head over to Caregiving for more holiday merriment, smiles, virtual hugs, AND a fun giveaway, including an Amazon gift certificate from SandwichINK. MERRY CHRISTMAS! 🙂
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My parents have passed on. May they RIP. I am the sole caregiver to an aging husband with Parkinson’s disease who is 18 years my senior and also two teenage grandchildren. I don’t think it is the sandwich generation here….Help me think up a good name! Enjoying the holidays is not only slow but it is HARD!
Hi Kaye–I love all your ideas–you are always such a wealth of information.
Thanks so much for being such a gracious host during our blog party. I look forward to this time with you every year.
Merry Christmas!!
Hi Paula – yup, it’s the Sandwich Generation. Per Carol Abaya – who came up with the name – we (I babysit half my grandkids) are Club sandwiches 🙂 http://www.sandwichgeneration.com/ “Club Sandwich: those in their 50s or 60s, sandwiched between aging parents, adult children and grandchildren. OR those in their 30s and 40s, with young children, aging parents and grandparents.” 🙂
My senior dad had parkinson’s Disease for two decades so I know how challenging it can be and you’re right, throw in anything extra – especially the holidays – and it can definitely be hard!
I enjoyed reading bits and pieces of your blog and boy, it brought back so many memories. My dad also went thru the up and down roller coaster of health the last 2-3 years. He’d go really low, then go back up but never as high up. But I do have so many treasured memories of those last two years as well as hard ones. And the best treasures of all were knowing that when he did pass, it would be straight into the arms of his Savior. AND the treasures of seeing him so happy in small little ways – like giving his great-grandkids rides in his wheelchair. Or watching him watch his tiny great grandkids swinging as he pulled the rope we attached to their swing so he could pull instead of push.
That’s part of the joys of the Sandwich Generation, isn’t it? Having the different generations there to help each other, encourage each other, hug each other. It ain’t all perfect as I can tell you know well. But God keeps giving us the grace to take one more step, doesn’t He?
Thank you so much for stopping by! I’m praying for you and your family – those grandkids are adorable looking and such a sweet blessing to you both.
Kaye 🙂
Hi Denise. Thank you so much 🙂 And thank you for all your hard work throwing this encouraging holiday blog party for caregivers. You are truly a blessing to many – including me 🙂
Thank you for your kind words Kaye. I will return for more insight. Like you said it is HARD…but we do have good moments!
First, your Smilebox is wonderful! Merry Christmas Kaye! Must share that I came up with an easier way to decorate the Christmas tree – let the grandchild do it!
I must add that it always surprises me just how many people have been impacted by Parkinson’s. It is so hard on everyone involved and it can be so demoralizing for the victim. Maybe someday…
So, I’m not the only one who doesn’t get the Christmas tree down until February! I love your process, hanging or taking an ornament down each time you talk to someone on the phone! http://newgrandmas.com/8957/rememberwhen/when-do-you-take-your-christmas-tree-down
It definitely works great, Carol 🙂 Finally got it decorated that way 🙂 🙂 🙂
Thanks KC – And I usually do put the boys to work on it but we’ve been at their house more this year so the timing hasn’t worked for it. 🙂
I’m with you in hoping for a cure for Parkinson’s someday!!!!
🙂
🙂 Amen! 🙂
Here from the GrandSocial, and you got pinned! Gracias for the great info and sharing in this post- gonna save it to savor it. BB2U
Thanks! And welcome 🙂 🙂 🙂