Great—let’s get rolling with Issue #171 of Stuck in the Middle News for Monday, April 21, 2025.

📰 STUCK IN THE MIDDLE NEWS

Issue #171 – April 21, 2025
For those caring for their aging parents, raising kids, holding down a career—and still trying to keep their sanity.

🎯 MAIN INSIGHT

“The Guilt Trip That Never Ends”

Why Sandwich Generation caregivers struggle to rest—even when they desperately need it.

If you’ve ever tried to sit down and relax—only to hear the voice in your head whisper:

For people like us—taking care of aging parents, raising kids, and managing everything else—guilt becomes a constant companion.
Not the helpful kind that keeps you ethical.
The draining kind that sabotages your rest.

Let’s talk about it.

👩‍⚕️ The Unpaid Shift That Never Ends

Most caregivers don’t realize this, but you’re often working a second full-time job:

• Coordinating doctor visits

• Monitoring medications

• Navigating insurance

• Doing the emotional labor of making everyone feel “okay”

You go from Zoom meeting to medication refill to dinner prep—with no actual break in sight.

So when you finally try to rest, your brain won't let you. You start scrolling through tasks in your head. Or you feel selfish for even trying to unplug.

That’s not rest. That’s torture.

😓 The 3 Types of Guilt We Carry

1. Parental guilt — “Am I doing enough for my mom/dad?”

2. Spouse/partner guilt — “My relationship is on the back burner.”

3. Self-guilt — “I shouldn’t need a break. Other people have it worse.”

But guess what? Guilt is not a productivity tool.
And pushing through it leads straight to burnout.

🛑 What to Do About It

Start here:

✅ Name the guilt out loud.
Saying, “I feel guilty for taking this walk instead of calling my dad,” defuses the emotion.

✅ Time-box your caregiving tasks.
Give caregiving a schedule. This puts a fence around your emotional energy.

✅ Rest like it's a job.
Literally put “rest” on your calendar. And treat it as non-negotiable.

✅ Use this tool to help you decide what to let go of:
👉 What Can I Let Go Of? Checklist – $9.99
Full of realistic strategies and mental load relievers for the sandwich generation.

🔗 CURATED LINKS YOU’LL APPRECIATE

1. How to Know If Your Aging Parent Needs Help
   This isn’t just about memory loss—there are 6 big red flags.
   📎 https://www.caregiver.org/resource/six-signs-your-aging-parents-might-need-help/
   → (link verified)

2. This Comic Explains Caregiver Burnout Better Than Words Ever Could
   Short, emotional, and powerful.
   📎 https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/03/02/opinion/caregiver-burnout-comic.html
   → (link verified – New York Times)

3. Managing Caregiver Guilt – A Guide From Psychology Today
   Practical advice on breaking the guilt loop.
   📎 https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/caring-the-caregiver/202204/managing-caregiver-guilt
   → (link verified)

💬 QUICK QUESTION FOR YOU

What do you feel guilty about lately—and is it actually yours to carry?

Hit “reply” and tell me. I read every message, and your stories help shape future issues.

Stuck in the Middle News is your twice-weekly sanity break.
Next issue drops Thursday.

💥 Stay strong—but not alone.
—Brian

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