Boomer Women - How is Your Relationship With Your Parents?

If you are fortunate to have one or two parents still walking this planet, what is your relationship with them? Is it caring and loving or is there friction that may be left over from years back? It may not be a subject we think about that often, we have so many other things that occupy our time and energy. But since the majority of the women who read my articles are over 50 years old, I think it's something important for us to pay attention to.

One of the hardest pieces is that more often than not you don't live near your parent's. In our family all 4 kids are all over the country while Bud is in south Florida. How do you keep up with your parent's? How to reach out and stay connected with them? Do you think you do enough? That is always a big question isn't it? Am I a 'good enough' daughter? What is 'good enough' anyway?

As the 'sandwich' generation you may still have children at home as well as one or both parents. That to me has to be the toughest of situations. How do you manage and keep your sanity with all those balls in the air? Here are some Tips that I hope are helpful. I believe one of the most important pieces is simply keeping in touch.

- Call frequently. They don't have to be long calls, but they will know you are thinking of them
- Email, if they email and many, many do
- Send cards for no real reason other than to say they are in your thoughts
- Send a small gift now and then: a book or item that will have meaning to them
- Have the grandchildren keep in touch more

I know this last one can be tough. It's easier if your children are still living with you but once they go off on their own, it gets harder. I hear not just from Bud but from other grandparents. It's great when all the grandkids call them or visit when they are sick and not doing well, but wouldn't it be nice if they made contact even when things are going well?

The other important piece to keep in mind is that as moms and daughters you are role modeling to your own children. Do you have relationships with your own parent/s that you would like your children to have with you? I don't need to tell you the power of what you do as mothers and daughters. Is there something you might share about how you deal with the challenges of your aging parents? I would love to hear.

Kim Kirmmse Toth lcsw, acc is a Transitions Strengths Based Coach and Trainer specializing in CEO's, Executives and Entrepreneurs: Life after Work. If you are ready to begin creating the next big transition in your life, to ensure it's as successful as your career get your Free Top Ten Secrets to a Successful Retirement now at http://www.redhotretirement.com or visit http://www.positiveaginginc.com.