As you get older, you might have to make decisions that involve prioritizing either your parents or your children. Although many elders end up living in a retirement community, there are still those that opt to stay in their own house. This results in you having to balance your time to take care of both your parents and your kids; not to mention yourself. Even though there are other possible sources of stress, this balancing act may also be a reason for frustration in the family.
Some elders need constant attention, while others are alright with a weekly visit. Depending on their capabilities, there will have to be adjustments to your availability. This is a reason why balancing both will be tough. As you are pulled in two different directions, here are some considerations if you want to keep your commitments without sacrificing the other:
You Do Not Have To Do It Alone
There will always be the option of getting help. You could hire home nursing care services for your parents or find a babysitter for your children. If you feel stuck in the middle of both responsibilities, do not be afraid to ask for some assistance before you get overwhelmed. This is so that you will have the capacity of persevering amid these obstacles.
Delegating the responsibility to professionals will give you time to yourself. You should be able to focus on either your goals rather than having to prioritize the needs of others. It is not a means of diminishing what your parents and children require. Instead, it is a wise way to fulfill your equally demanding roles and having enough time to do what you want to do. You can still schedule some time to spend with your family while making allowances for emergencies.
Furthermore, when you trust the care of your parents or children with experienced individuals, you can ensure that their needs will be met. The nurses would have been trained with the appropriate approach to those of age, knowledgeable in the solutions to problems that these specific age groups face. This gesture would mean providing the best care for your family.
Visit Once A Week Or Every Other Week
As mentioned earlier, having someone take care of your family will give you the freedom to schedule your days better. You can have fewer visits to your parents, limiting them to once a week or any other arrangement that works best. This is a means of strengthening bonds with your loved ones. Distance is known to amplify how much people value their relationships.
On the other hand, if your parents are unwell, you could still get help from the nurse while visiting more often. This way you will always have assistance and you can spend more time with your loved ones to aid in a speedy recovery. Someone will be able to make a run to the pharmacy while the other stays behind, meaning that there will always be someone on the lookout in case of an emergency.
People tend to get burned out by constant communication eventually. Spacing out visits will give both parties the time to recharge and figure out their personas without the other. The relationship becomes less constricting. It will develop into a bond that each one will yearn for instead.
Invite Your Children to Come With You
You can hit two figurative birds with one stone by bringing both responsibilities in one room. The grandparents can spend time with their grandchildren and you can spend time with them all together rather than scheduling separate portions of your day for either. As a result, generations of your family can bond, building stronger relationships.
The children will be able to learn from the stories that their grandparents tell while you follow up with the state of their house. You can use this time to communicate with the nurse regarding any concerns as your parents spend some time with your children. The grandparents might miss the liveliness of children so this is a great opportunity to keep them both entertained. This way, you will be able to multitask both responsibilities, enriching the lives of both your children and parents.
Being overstretched by familial responsibilities can become stressful if you do not handle it properly. Getting a grip on the situation and what needs to be done can provide some relief for yourself, your parents, and your children. Although they might prefer to spend every moment of every day with you, it cannot help if you are not well-rested.