By Vivien Bergl, LCSW, CEAP
Solutions Employee Assistance Program Coordinator

One evening, Mark (not his real name) called out to his wife Mary (not her real name)

that wheat bread was on the phone. After Mary took the call and finished it (proclaiming a bad headache when she hung up), the phone rang again. Mary answered it and called to Mark that white bread was on the phone. In between calls, they were trying to figure out carpooling for their son to get to his games and helping their daughter with college applications, and Mark was doing a little work at home. What were they talking about?! Wheat bread, white bread, what’s that about?

Mark and Mary are part of a group called the sandwich generation. This refers to the baby boomer children, now between the ages of 50 to mid 60’s, or even to younger adults in their 30’s and 40’s. This group is sandwiched between the needs of multiple generations, while managing their day to day responsibilities. It can be a recipe (excuse the pun) for disaster. But before you despair we will be using this month to talk about how to handle the stress, what are some of the discussions you need to have with your children and parents and what resources are available for you and your loved ones.

Mary and Mark refer to her mother as “wheat bread” and they refer to his mother as “white bread” as cute code words. Though maybe this sounds unkind, it’s actually one way of coping, Humor! They love their parents and do a great deal for them, but need to let off some steam. There are all sorts of connotations connected with this terminology sandwich generation. For example, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich describes those caregivers that are stuck between aging parents and children. A triple-decker sandwich identifies those that are caring for children, parents and grandparents.

Where do you fall or do you have friends and family struggling with this? Next week we will talk about who is in this population and some of the coping strategies to start with.

Call Solutions EAP at 1-800-526-3485 for assistance for all of life's challenges.
It’s free, confidential and open to your family members.
Check us out on-line at
http://www.solutions-eap.com

George "Bud" Wassell, MS, LPC, CEAP
Director, Solutions EAP
213 Court Street
Middletown, CT 06457
800-526-3485
fax: 860-704-6221
www.solutions-eap.com