In This Chapter

• Brushing up on parenting skills, for kids of all ages

• Finding ways to help your aging loved ones

• Taking care of yourself — so you can take care of others

You don't need us to tell you that you're part of the sandwich generation — squeezed on all sides and dealing with the needs of all the important people in your life. From your aging parents, to your own kids, and even your grandkids, your loved ones need your time, your energy, and possibly your financial support. When you're spending all your time being there for everyone else, it's easy to overlook your own needs. But the flight attendants have it right: You need to put on your own mask, before you try to help anyone else.

In this chapter, we give you a few strategies for dealing with kids — whether your little ones who haven't left the nest yet, your grown children who've moved back home after college, or your grandchildren. We also offer the straight scoop on what to expect as loved ones age — aging isn't easy, but if you're informed, you'll be better prepared to face the challenges ahead. Finally, we give you concrete tips for avoiding caregiver burnout — you need to take care of yourself in order to help the ones you love.

Parenting Skills for Kids of all Ages

When you were younger, you probably thought that by the time you were in your early 60s, you'd be done with dealing with kids. But somewhere along the line, you realized the inevitable truth: Once a parent, always a parent. Maybe you thought you were done raising kids, only to find that your grandkids have made your home theirs. Perhaps your grown kids moved home after college (or never left after high school), and you're still having to parent them. Or maybe you had kids later in life and your retirement will be more about going to Little League games than hitting the links.

Regardless of your situation, it never hurts to brush up on a few parenting skills that work at any age. In this section, we've got you covered.

Speaking and listening with care

You need an effective way to express your ideas and wants to children of all ages. That's communication. Speak clearly, precisely, and succinctly. If you're too long-winded, your recipient won't hear half of what you're saying.

Be specific about your wants and desires, keeping in mind that they don't always have the same definition that you do. So, when you say, “Please clean your room,” be specific about what “clean” means. You may mean “as clean as an operating room before surgery,” but they may think that the path from the door to the bed just needs to be a little wider.

Communication also means listening. It's a two-way street: You talk. You listen. Without listening, talking isn't communication.

Back to Top