April is Stress Awareness Month and this is a great reminder that stress left unaddressed doesn’t just go away. It builds. And for caregivers, especially sandwich generation caregivers (people simultaneously raising children and caring for aging parents) that buildup can be relentless. This month, we’re focusing on what meaningful self-care actually looks like for those caught in this role.
Imagine a car dashboard warning light — the kind that signals something’s wrong. Now imagine that light isn’t about your car. It’s about you. That’s the opening image from a powerful presentation from Del Oro Caregiver Resource Center on caregiver self-care and burnout.
Burnout is what happens when self-care is neglected across the many domains of our well-being. This may be physical, emotional, social, or spiritual. For caregivers juggling two generations, it can creep in quietly before hitting all at once. The antidote starts with one simple (but surprisingly hard) thing: honestly checking in with yourself, rather than defaulting to “I’m fine” when someone asks how you’re doing.
Caring for an aging parent while raising children offers insights into what it means to be human- sharing vulnerability, growth, and love across generations all at once. Meaning can be found in even the most exhausting seasons of life, if we slow down enough to notice it.
This Stress Awareness Month, consider this your invitation to stop ignoring the warning light. To go deeper on these ideas, we encourage you to watch the full video presentation — it’s packed with insights, practical tools, and a warm, honest perspective on what it really means to care for yourself while caring for others.