“No one talks about how hard it is to take care of your kids, work a full-time job, and take care of an ailing parent, all while trying to keep yourself healthy.” This was posted by a Facebook friend who’s living out the challenges of the ‘Sandwich Generation.’ While neither me nor Penny are in this situation, we’re seeing a growing number of people in our lives who are simultaneously caring for elderly parents and dependent children, oftentimes under the same roof. There’s a real possibility one or both of us will become part of this group of adults since 71% are ages 40 to 59 and 64% are women. This very real possibility inspired us to dig a little deeper into the challenges and complexities of the sandwich generation, so we enlisted an arsenal of experts in the field to provide direction, advice, resources, and hope to help ease the burden on adult children who are presently stuck in the middle of this life, and to help prepare those of us who may be presented with this decision in the future.

As we traverse the intricate journey of midlife, it becomes increasingly apparent that the choices we make today profoundly impact our future. This pivotal stage brings with it a myriad of responsibilities, including managing finances, securing our legacy, and ensuring our loved ones are taken care of.