Rough Times

Have you ever heard of the Sandwich Generation? It's that group of people that are finding themselves sandwiched between caring for children and aging parents. Dale and I are finding ourselves right smack-dab in the middle of this generation.

Our kids, at 21 and 19, 
are no longer "children" in the sense of needing a lot of hands on guidance and daily care. As college students they are spreading their wings and learning to find their own way in the world. However, they are still mom and dad's boys who need us for moral support, occasional advice, and of course, financial aid. I'm proud of my boys and the men they've become but I still worry and fret over them just as much today as I did when they were 8 and 6.

On the other end of the spectrum, we have our mothers, who at 83 
and 88  
are both desperately trying to hang on to their independence even in the face of their declining health.

Today the two worlds crashed into each other.

Both moms are in health crisis'. One is not quite as serious as the other, but both are causing us great concern and we're scrambling to figure out how to give both the time and attention they need.

Not to feel left out, I got a call and a text from each of the boys today. Scholarships that are meant to cover the remainder of their tuition have not been issued. I know the money will eventually be received but meantime I have two kids worrying about money instead of focusing on studies.

I'm not going to lie. There are times when I wish I wasn't the adult and could call someone to come and take care of things. That's not going to happen though, so I'm just going to have to pull up my big girl panties and deal with it.