There is a children's book that my Mother used to read to me as a child called Love You Forever. The concept of the book is the progression of life and the relationship between a parent and a child. Beginning with the mother taking care of her baby and ending with her baby taking care of her.
This concept seemed so far off as a child. How could the strongest two people in my life that I relied on for everything and loved more than anything in the world ever need me the way I needed them?
Fast forward to adulthood and here we are. My father sadly passed away when I was in my 20's, leaving my Mom with a broken heart and another 30+ years of life left to live, which we are very thankful for. This means that my sisters and I have a responsibility to ensure our mother has the absolute best care possible as she and my Dad made sure we had growing up.
Balancing our own children, aging parents, and a career is difficult and often not discussed but it should be, because it is another stress that we willingly and rightfully so take on typically in the height of our careers.
If you are dealing with this and need support, be sure to talk to someone. Find ways to still carve out time for you and your mental health...because if your tank is only 1/2 full no one will get 100%.
Also enjoy the time you have with your parents if you are lucky enough to still have them. They are not a burden, they are simply growing old while we are busy growing up.
Women who are caregivers to their parents are more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety as they are pulled in multiple different directions, according to Weglein. They do not feel there are enough hours in the day to care for their children, parents, spouse/partner and perform well in their career. Many women also push their own health to the side in order to care for others which has resulted in cancers being found in later stages and an increase in mental health issues.
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