| Oprahbama, the big O's, Oprah and the | | | | board, validate your perceptions, |
| Obamas - sounds like a rock band on a | | | | support your ideas and help you follow |
| road trip. As Oprah hit the campaign | | | | through with your plans. 5. As knowledge |
| trail recently, her candidate played the | | | | is power, try to better understand the |
| celebrity card and the female fan base | | | | difficult transitions your family in |
| responded. When you need it, the value | | | | flux is going through. Gather |
| of support simply cannot be | | | | information about how to manage change |
| overestimated. Oprah is a driving force, | | | | from the Internet's search engines or |
| with her message of empowering women and | | | | the self-help section of bookstores. |
| her success at moving product. So, for | | | | Talk to others who have gone through |
| now, the contest for the democratic | | | | similar experiences in order to get |
| nomination is more up in the air. | | | | realistic feedback and some concrete |
| Hillary pulled out all the stops, | | | | advice. 6. Dig deep and find your own |
| spending her time drumming up support | | | | inner voice - listen to what it has to |
| with her mom and daughter close by her | | | | say about caring for your family |
| side. Are you in the same boat, as | | | | relationships and nurturing yourself |
| Sandwiched Boomers in the midst of | | | | personally. Set some specific goals |
| dealing with aging parents and growing | | | | about what you need from your family and |
| children? Do you need some help in | | | | for you. Step by step, work toward |
| finding support for yourself? Learn how | | | | achieving them. Perhaps the marriage of |
| to go about it from the following ideas: | | | | show business and politics is a little |
| 1. Educate yourself about what to expect | | | | too Hollywood for your taste. Obama and |
| and the various organizations or | | | | Hillary are focused on the best way to |
| resources available to you. Talk to | | | | achieve maximum political advantage. For |
| friends and family whose opinions you | | | | you, it's more about building a support |
| respect. Collaboration is essential | | | | system, not star power. How to get the |
| during such a critical period of time. | | | | vote of confidence, from those whose |
| Reach out and create a network - you | | | | reinforcement you need, may be the crux |
| don't have to do it alone. 2. Be frank | | | | of your struggle right now. Pitch for |
| with your family. Engage your siblings | | | | the demographic that will buoy you up in |
| in the problems and the solutions. Put | | | | times of need. And save the best seats |
| emotional and logistical support systems | | | | in the house for those who will continue |
| in place as you ask for practical help | | | | to work on your behalf. © 2007, Her |
| and delegate responsibilities. Have them | | | | Mentor Center |
| set aside personal agendas and work | | | | Phyllis Goldberg, Ph.D. & Rosemary |
| together toward collective goals. 3. | | | | Lichtman, Ph.D. are co-founders of a |
| Find a class or workshop that addresses | | | | website for midlife women and a Blog |
| your specific concerns. Local university | | | | for the Sandwich Generation. They are |
| extension programs or mental health | | | | authors of a forthcoming book about Baby |
| centers provide training seminars about | | | | Boomers' family relationships and |
| a variety of concerns and problems that | | | | publish a free newsletter, Stepping |
| are common to Sandwiched Boomers. 4. | | | | Stones, through their website. As |
| Join an ongoing group or attend a | | | | psychotherapists, they have over 40 |
| weekend retreat to share concerns, | | | | years of collective private practice |
| problem-solve and gain new perspective. | | | | experience. |
| A therapist or a coach can be a sounding | | | | |