Empowering Families

Do you know what the “sandwich generation” is? It’s the generation caught between caring for children and elderly parents. When people in the sandwich generation also face a challenging marriage or divorce, it can be incredibly difficult. I’m Katherine Miller, and I’ve been a divorce attorney in New York City and Westchester County for over 30 years. I’ve put together some strategies to help you manage this situation:

1. Prioritize Yourself: It might sound cliché, but taking care of yourself first is crucial. Just like the flight safety advice to put your own mask on before assisting others, you need to ensure your well-being before you can effectively support anyone else. This is especially important for women, who may feel guilty about putting themselves first. Remember, self-care is essential for you to be able to care for others.
2. Delegate Tasks: Delegate responsibilities whenever possible. For example, you might work with professionals like my friend Peter Gordon from New York Financial Organizers to help manage your parents’ financial issues, freeing up your time to focus on your own financial matters, such as child support, maintenance, and equitable distribution in your divorce.
3. Organize Your Time: Avoid trying to juggle everything simultaneously. Multitasking is often less effective than focusing on one task at a time. Consider allocating specific days for different responsibilities: Monday for your parents, Tuesday and Thursday for your children, Wednesday for your divorce, and Friday for yourself. Feel free to adjust as needed.

Thanks for listening.