The "Sandwich Generation," I'm never really sure how I feel about that term but I'm a living part of it! And I'm not just a regular sandwich, I'm a Club sandwich! Why? Well Club sandwiches (which I love by the way) have lots of layers and I am stuck in the middle of 4 generations!
My mom passed away in late April of last year. Before she moved to the nursing home a couple of months before her death, she and my Dad lived here in my house in addition we built for them. My Dad is now in Assisted Living at a nursing home as well. I run errands for him and visit him. I am also involved in the lives of two other elderly people who I consider family. They live about 40 minutes away.
Then there are my kids, the three oldest who are 34, 28, and 26. Two of them are married and have kids so I am a Grandma. The 28 year old is special needs and I will be taking care of her for as long as I am physically able to do it. We also adopted 4 other children a few years ago....so we have an 11 year old, a 9 year old, an 8 year old and a 6 year old. Yep, we started all over again, and each one of them came to us as babies. I also have neices and nephews and a couple great-neices and nephews. We see some of them frequently.
We are a close family. So I am surrounded by most of these people on a regular basis. I answer to Mom, Grandma, Honey, Kathy, MILK (mother in law Kathy), Aunt Kathy, and sometimes just "Hey you." I also respond to barks, neighing, bleeting, and meowing since we have several furry family members who require my attention as well.
I also try to volunteer to do things for the younger kids and grandkids schools when I can. I enjoy being around the kids' school and like the fact that pretty much every kid in school knows who I am because they see me there so often.
Its a crazy life, as my blog title indicates. But I don't think I would want it any other way. Sure it can be difficult and there is ALWAYS drama, and most nights I fall into bed exhausted. There were years when I worked outside of the home too, but I chose to become a stay at home mom about 7 years ago, just a couple of months before the 3 youngest started joining our family. (Apparently my becoming a stay at home mom was destined to be because I never could have continued my job and been able to take in 3 more children.) But I am happy, though there are several people who would tell you I am nuts! The life I live isn't for everyone, but its the one God has given me, and my shoulders have been broad enough to do it all in the past and I'm sure I will continue to "Do it All" for years to come!
Have a great day!
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