Now, you might think traveling means stepping away from daily responsibilities. But as anyone who’s in the sandwich generation knows, family responsibilities follow you, even on the road. My mom, who’s been struggling with memory issues lately, called me multiple times during the trip, unsure of where I was.
“Where are you? Why didn’t you tell me you were leaving?”
No matter how many times I had told her about the trip, she simply didn’t remember. It’s the reality of managing caregiving from a distance—balancing my own life, work, and health, while making sure she’s okay. This trip tested my patience and taught me to accept that sometimes, no matter how much I explain, the same questions will come back. And that’s okay.
Each call was a reminder that family obligations don’t take a backseat just because you’re on the road. But what kept me grounded was leaning into grace—knowing I’m doing my best with the situation. It wasn’t easy, but I learned to set boundaries while staying connected.