You are caring for ageing parents. You are parenting teenagers. You are holding a career that demands your best when your best is being distributed in twelve directions.
This is the Sandwich Generation. And the name does not come close to capturing the weight of it.
The Layer Nobody Talks About
Everyone talks about the practical challenges. What nobody is naming is the identity erasure that happens quietly in the middle of all of it.
When was the last time you did something just for you? Not productive. Not useful. Just yours?
Your Calm Is a Leadership Skill
Here is what I tell every woman in the sandwich generation: your calm is not a luxury. Your calm is a leadership skill. When you are regulated, your parents feel safer. Your teenagers feel steadier. Your team performs better.