... that we were, and we're pulled towards being that good parent, but yet we also are being pulled this way because we're still having to be a professional and still act in a certain way when, you know, between the hours of 9:00 and 5:00, when our heads can sometimes be elsewhere, our, our minds can be elsewhere, and we physically want to be elsewhere.

And I think actually the technology is a part of that, strangely enough.

I think in listening to a lot of different theories and ideas, social media, especially things like Facebook, everybody needs to look like, "Wow, I've got this amazing life.

I've got my kids, I've got my parents, I've got my job, I've got my spouse, and I'm going on vacation, and look at how wonderful I cook, and look at how beautifully I'm dressed." And to, to keep up with that standard everywhere in your life, very few people can actually do that.

And so we want to make sure that what we're portraying is what we're supposed to be, and for most people, it's not.

Most people, you know, you've got a kid in school that's struggling and really needs help.

You've got a parent that doesn't want your help but needs it.

What do they need to do to feel as if they're rebuilding who they are or who they feel, feel they are when they feel as if I actually don't have a choice, you know, when things are thrown at them, you know?

It's become this second job that they've sort of acquired, and I'm just wondering, what's your feelings about that, Janice?

So I would say it can be one of two streams.

Sometimes it is a slow progression.

You see one sign and then another, and then you're thinking, "Oh, that's not normal.

What, what's happening here?" And then you start seeing an escalation of small little things.

I'm actually writing a whole series on LinkedIn called Is It a Sign? Because sometimes it's not.

Sometimes it's just a thing.

How do you think about that? How do they navigate that, the split in their mind when they're almost half outside the door all the time?

Right.

You have a doctor's appointment.

But if I tell you it's for my parent, then you're thinking, oh, well, how is this gonna affect your work life? And again, part of what I want to be able to bring to companies is if you're aware of what is going on, then you also can understand how you can best support your, your staff member so that they're still going to be a productive member of your staff, that you can understand, okay, maybe they, they need to have two hours off today at 3:00 to 5:00, but we're gonna find a flexible way to make it work for them.

Janice, if somebody wants to get in touch to get more information and, and learn more about your services, how can they contact you?

Uh, you can get me a few ways.

I'm on LinkedIn under Talk About Aging.

I'm also on Instagram, uh, for more personal, um, discussions, and it's under Aging Parent Journey.

My email address is janice@talkaboutaging.com, and I'm always happy to answer questions, um, and help companies.