Caught in the Middle
Hello!
I’ve got some news for you today, but we’ll come to that in a moment.
Let’s start with this week’s topic and podcast. After recording, Zo said to me, “Hannah, that was your best one yet.”
Now, that remains to be seen, but it certainly felt like an important topic—one we’ll probably revisit in a few different ways in the future.
Today, I’m focusing on the “sandwich generation.” No, this has nothing to do with making packed lunches! The sandwich generation refers to those of us caring for both parents and children. You could even be in a “triple-decker sandwich” if you’re a grandparent caring for grandchildren, supporting your children, and looking after your own parents, too.
The term sandwich relates to the idea of a squeeze—the squeeze on time, emotional reserves, and career. It’s a stage of life we rarely discuss, including the sacrifices, complexities, and dynamics involved with parents, siblings, and the expectations that come with it all.
I’m in this season. Although my boys aren’t little, they still have needs, and there’s plenty of juggling, emotional support, and household responsibilities to manage—alongside running my own business full-time. My parents also need support, and because they don’t live nearby, it adds another layer. I can’t be there as much as I’d like, so it falls more on my sister, which leaves me feeling guilty.
Am I meeting everyone’s expectations? I talk a bit about this on the podcast and share what I’m learning during this stage of life.
In this episode, I explore:
Why, although this has always been a reality, it’s now harder than ever to be in this generation
The types of squeeze we experience
The sacrifices involved
How to recognise signs of carer burnout
Some practical things we can do to help ourselves (with wise words from Penny Wincer)
How we might view this season differently, focusing on the purpose within it
If you’re involved in any kind of caregiving, I believe today’s episode will resonate with you. Even if your parents are currently healthy, or you’re not technically a “sandwich” carer, you may still be balancing care responsibilities. And frankly, if you’re not there yet, it’s likely you will be at some point. As someone said to me on social media, “I can see this train coming down the track—I need to prepare for it because it’s on its way.”
Now, back to the news I wanted to share. As my faithful readers/listeners, I wanted you to be the first to know about some changes to the podcast format.
Firstly, we’ve changed the name; it’s now called The Purpose Pursuit Podcast. No great mystery here—it’s simply the name of my signature coaching programme. We realised that having multiple names could be confusing, so we streamlined it.
The work I do, whether with individuals, leaders, or teams, is all about living and working more purposefully. It’s about using purpose and personality to make that happen, and I like to keep it practical. That’s essentially what the podcast is about, so why add more lingo? Think: purpose, personality, and practicality
Secondly, we’ll be mixing up the format a bit. I’d love for it to feel more like a magazine, with various styles to keep things interesting and informative.
There’ll be guest episodes, topic-focused episodes, solo episodes, book club episodes, personal reflection episodes, and Q&A episodes. But regardless of format, the goal remains the same: to equip you with helpful reflections and insights that guide you towards a purposeful life.
I’ll focus on using your personality’s full potential and keep it practical and relatable for us mere mortals. I promise to stay honest, share stories, and balance lightness with depth.
I’d genuinely love your feedback on this—just hit reply or DM me on social media. And if you’re not following me on Instagram, come join me there! I share reels and snippets from the podcast, so it’s a great place to connect (you can find me at @hellohannahmiller).
Before signing off, here’s a thought-provoking quote, stat, and question for you:
1 quote: “Through my experiences, I have had my eyes opened to both the most beautiful and ugliest of human emotions. I’ve been racked with fear and guilt, resented the demands placed on me, experienced incredible joy, loved more deeply than I thought possible, and picked myself up from the floor more times than I can count. The reality is that for most, caring is exactly like the rest of life: sometimes wonderful, sometimes terrible, and, often, very ordinary.” – Penny Wincer
1 stat: According to a 2019 government report, 27% of people in the sandwich generation reported mild to moderate mental health symptoms, directly correlating with the amount of time they spent caring.
1 question: When you think about the relationships you’re balancing, where are you meeting expectations, and where can you give yourself permission to let go?
Love,
Hannah x
P.S. On the podcast, I mention Tender by Penny Wincer. You can find it [here].