Surviving the Sandwich Generation (Still Trying!)

Noelle Garcia  knows what it means to be squeezed from every side. As a homeschool mom of six and full-time caregiver to her mother-in-law, she joins Jim and Meghan to share her family's journey through the sandwich generation, caring for aging parents while still raising children at home. From her father-in-law's cancer battle and unexpected deathbed conversion to the daily challenges of dementia care, Noelle speaks with honesty about grief, exhaustion, and grace. She offers practical wisdom on self-care, marriage, and leaning on community when the weight feels like too much to carry alone.

What’s in this episode:

• Her father-in-law's cancer battle and his powerful deathbed conversion

• Bringing a mother-in-law with dementia to live in their home

• The real difference between self-soothing and lasting self-care

• Protecting marriage while both spouses are stretched thin

• A fasting mishap that turned into an answered prayer

• Why community turns isolating struggles into shared crosses

• One resource every Catholic family should know: Catholic FamilyLand in Ohio, a Catholic family camp with a Marian consecration retreat

• Book she is currently reading: Theo of Golden

• Advice to her younger self: Don't put all your eggs in one basket - trust that God is working even when one thing doesn't work out

• Final wisdom for listeners: Find your community and share your struggles, because others are likely carrying something similar

Resources Mentioned:

Catholic FamilyLand - A Catholic family camp offering a Marian consecration retreat 

Dementia Careblazers - YouTube channel with caregiving tips for redirection and calm 

Gospel of Life Disciples + Dwellings - A Catholic hospice ministry run by religious sisters 

Theo of Golden - Novel about uncovering strangers' stories through portraits