The Sandwich Generation Blues

(x-posted from Boomer goup)

I am 62. Like many boomers, I didn't start my familly until late. I had my youngest child when I was 39.

Up until recently, I guess I just assumed that by the time my parents needed my help, my kids would be well on the path to independence.

Well, . . .assumptions, right?

Right now I am 1800 miles away from home attending to a dear, widowed Mom with a painful compression fracture. I don't know hown long I will be here, or how much help she will need.

Dear Husband, (diabetic, with cane-requiring balance, mobility issues, and a reliance on prescribed pain meds), and my 20-something son with emotional issues are in the nominal care of my OTHER 20-something son who is a (typical, I believe) "angry young man" who is a full time Junior at a college that he commutes to about 50 miles away.

Mom feels guilty about keeping me away from them. DH is determined not to give me a clear picture of how things are going at home (so I won't 'worry'). And my troubled son skypes me with how his father and brother hate him and things are never going to get better and everything is ok here, so don't worry.

Thank God we have a natural-born "therapy dog"