I had no idea what I was getting into, and what an odd experience to know that I was there, in part, to document the inevitable death of my mother from lung cancer as well as my life between and aging father and my own young family.

Not only has this been a place for me to put my thoughts down, I’ve made some friends along the way, and it’s been invaluable to me to know there’s other people in the boat.

I try very hard not to make this place maudlin and not to assume that all seniors are frail and require constant care, but the reality is that for many of us, we are on watch for things that indicate we may need to step in and assist our parents who have been the ones helping us all these years.

People have been caring for their parents since the beginning of time without the assistance of the Internet, but I am so fortunate that online resources and support are available to me.

So, thank you for reading and for being here. Please speak up if there’s ever something you’d like to see covered here at GenBetween, and help yourself to a slice of birthday cake.

Post from: Blisstree

GenBetween is 2 years old!

Reading Writing Living
The Boomer Chronicles
AGIS
CareStation
Mothering Mother and More
boomerwatch.ca

Anyone else?

Post from: Blisstree

Keep those blogs rollin’

If you write about caregiving, aging, or being in between aging parents and children please and would like to be added to the blogroll links down there on the right, please leave a comment.

If you don’t have a site, don’t feel left out. Is there a blog or site related to the topic that you like to read? If so, leave a comment, and, I’ll add it.

Or, if you want, leave a comment just to say hello!

Post from: Blisstree

Blogroll housecleaning

Many of you seem to have found this site lately by searching for “first Christmas without my mother”. Please know that I’m sorry.
I’ve been there, and, I wish you peace and happiness and please know that things do get better.

As we ease out of the year, here’s a look back at the most commented-upon posts of 2007:

January: Kind of like an emotional breakthrough, only not.

February: An act of love

March: Estate Planning

April: The Zimmers Band

May: Generation Jones

June: Being Dead is No Excuse: The Official Southern Ladies Guide to Hosting the Perfect Funeral

July: Life After Work

August: An aging workforce forces companies to adapt

September: Tour de I Don’t Want to Know

October: Memory Tips

November: Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts on losing her hair to chemo

December: Dealing with an overload of family heirlooms

Thank you for visiting and reading, you all are the best, and, I look forward to another great year in 2008.

Post from: Blisstree

GenBetween Best of 2007

The discussion centers around adult children who live away from their parents, and, how people find the time to stay connected.

I chimed in that no matter where you live in relation to your parents, sometimes the busy lives of both parties make it difficult to spend time together. I live in the same city as my dad, and, sometimes we don’t see each other much, but, we always stay in touch. That’s just life right now. He works, I work, my husband works, we have 3 kids in school, etc.

People give suggestions such as planning a regular phone call, sending e-mail (using a Presto. OK, they didn’t say that, but, don’t forget to enter my contest to win a Presto, and, send e-mail to your parents who might not have a computer), using webcams, etc.

I think sometimes a lot of guilt happens in an adult’s relationship with their parents, but, there comes a point that if you are truly doing everything you can do to stay in touch with your parents, then you need to let it go. I’ve often said that one of the best gifts my parents have given/gave me as an only child is the assumption that I’m doing/did the best that I can do at the time when it comes to them.

When I’m older, and, my kids are adults, I hope I can keep that in mind, and, give my children the same gift. I think it’s normal to want to spend time with the people you love, but, the reality is that we can’t always do it the way we want to. Sure, there are people who abuse that, but, I can’t worry about them, I just have to worry about me.

Post from: Blisstree

Spending time with your parents

Isn’t that, like, 7 in blog years, or, something?

It’s hard to believe, but, this time last year I posted my first entry about being in between young children, and, aging parents.

My mother was dying of cancer, and, when I wrote that first entry, I knew I’d be sharing her death with you, too, and, she did indeed die about 2 months later.

Little did I know what was in store for me only hours after her death when my father’s back problem became worse, and, he eventually ended up unable to walk. And, I’m also glad I had no idea that his eventual surgery and recovery would be as hard as it was, as I might have run away, at that point.

I never imagined how much concern, and, support I’d get from writing here, and, please know how much I appreciate all of you.

Thanks to all of you for reading, and, to b5 Media for allowing me to write about this wild ride.

Post from: Blisstree

Happy Birthday, GenBetween!

Oh, but you can! Just look right over there ==> in the sidebar for lots of ways to subscribe to this site. Or, you can just go right here and subscribe.

Perhaps you have no idea what I’m talking about. That’s OK, no worries. Just go here and learn a little about it, and, give it a try!

Just let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks!

Post from: Blisstree

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