One of my friends shared something on her socials recently that made me stop.
“I don’t just need to know where my kids are anymore… I need to know where my parents are too.”
That line stayed with me. Because that’s exactly what it becomes.
You’re managing your life. Your work. Your family. And then your parents start to need you in ways they never have before.
It can happen quickly.
People who were independent, capable, living their lives… suddenly aren’t in the same way. Health changes. Energy drops. Cognitive ability diminishes. Things that used to be simple aren’t anymore.
And without really noticing when it happened, you become responsible for more.
More decisions.
More coordination.
More thinking ahead.
It’s not just what you do. It’s what you carry in your head all day.
What needs to be organised.
What you need to check.
What might go wrong.
What’s coming next.
Who needs to be where.
You’re thinking for yourself… and for them.
At the same time.
And on the outside, you still look like you’ve got it together.
You’re showing up at work.
Looking after your family.
Keeping things moving.
Still capable. Still reliable. Still the one who gets it done.
But underneath that, there’s a constant level of responsibility that doesn’t really switch off.
It’s not always visible. And it’s not talked about enough.
In Australia, around 1 in 7 people are part of the sandwich generation, most of them women. They’re balancing work, raising children, and caring for ageing parents all at once.
That’s a lot.
For me, this has played out with my sister and I. Michelle has a family, we have our own lives, our own responsibilities. And then our parents needed us in a way we hadn’t experienced before.
It’s confronting. Because it’s not just practical.
It’s emotional.
You’re watching people who have always been strong start to rely on you.
You’re making decisions you never thought you’d need to make.
You’re holding space for them, while still holding everything else together.
And the expectation, from the outside, doesn’t really change.
If you’re in this season… I see you.
I see the decisions you’re making.
I see the pressure you’re carrying.
I see how much you’re holding together.
It takes more than people realise.
There’s no perfect way to do this.
But you don’t have to disappear in it either.
Your wellbeing matters.
Your capacity matters.
Because you’re part of this equation too.
If you’re in it right now… I see you.
And I know it’s not easy.