Welcome to the home of The Balanced Parent Podcast!

Parenting is often lived in the extremes. It's either Great Joy or chaotic overwhelmed. In one moment you’re nailing it and the next you're losing your cool I want to help you find your way to the messy middle, to a place of balance. You see, balance is a verb not a state of being. it is a thing you do not a thing you are. it is an action a process a series of micro-corrections each and every day to keep ourselves feeling centered. We are never truly balanced. We are engaged in the process of balancing.

Hello, I’m Dr. Laura Froyen and this is the Balanced Parent podcast, where overwhelmed stressed out and disconnected parents go to find tools, mindset shifts and practices to help them stop yelling at the people they love and start connecting on a deeper level, all delivered with heaping doses of grace and compassion. Join me in conversations that will help you get clear on your goals and values and start showing up in your parenting, your relationships, YOUR LIFE, with open-hearted authenticity and balance. Let’s go!

In this week’s episode of The Balanced Parent Podcast, we’ll explore the realities of the sandwich generation—the unique challenge of caring for both children and aging parents at the same time. Joining me is Dr. Shirley Davis, a certified leadership coach and recognized authority on workplace culture transformation, who is also living through the sandwich generation. Having recently relocated her parents to live with her while supporting her daughter, Shirley shares practical insights and heartfelt advice on balancing caregiving responsibilities across generations.

Here’s a summary of what we discussed:

Understanding the sandwich generation and its struggles
Navigating the challenges of living with and caring for aging parents
How to navigate and communicate with aging parents when transitioning to living together as independent adults
How to balance caregiving responsibilities for both children and aging parents
Seeing aging parents as whole people and rebuilding compassionate adult relationships with them
Balancing forgiveness and realistic boundaries to care for aging parents while redefining the relationship to avoid regrets

Resources:

To learn more about Dr. Shirley, visit her website drshirleydavis.com and follow her on Instagram @shirleydavisphd, Facebook @drshirleythesuccessordoctor, LinkedIn @drshirleydavis and YouTube @drshirleydavis.

Remember, balancing care for both your children and aging parents is challenging, but also an opportunity to grow compassion and strengthen family bonds.

Laura Froyen, PhD

Laura Froyen, PhD

Balanced Parent Podcast

Laura Froyen, PhD

Welcome to the home of The Balanced Parent Podcast!

Episode 230: Finding Balance in the Sandwich Generation Journey with Dr. Shirley Davis