Highlights:

• Navigating motherhood while also caring for aging parents is emotionally and physically draining especially on Mother’s Day.

• Moms in the sandwich generation often put their own needs last - support and structure can make a massive difference.

• The tendercare app helps streamline caregiving, reduce stress, and offer real-time support for women juggling it all.

For many moms, Mother’s Day isn’t just a time to be celebrated - it’s also a reminder of how much Moms do, and how the concept of motherhood evolves throughout different phases of life.

For those in the sandwich generation – individuals caring for both growing children and aging parents /– the day can feel bittersweet, overwhelming, or even invisible.

They are the planners of soccer schedules for kids and Alzheimer’s doctor appointments for their parents and aging loved ones. They are the emotional anchors when kids melt down and the advocates when their parents’ memory slips or mobility declines. 

Motherhood alone is a full-time job. Add caregiving for elderly parents, and it’s no surprise these women feel stretched thin.

Balancing Both Ends

Here’s the truth: you can’t pour from an empty cup. Moms in the sandwich generation need to give themselves permission to not do it all - and to ask for help. And, of equal, if not more importance, we as a society need to provide encouragement to the moms out there doing it all, doing their best, and showing up every day, whether they’re sick, sad, or something else.

Ways to create some breathing room

• Delegate what you can. Use meal services, rideshares, and/or family group chats to share the load.

• Set small boundaries. Even 15 minutes alone with a coffee and your own thoughts counts as self-care.

• Use tools that lighten the load. Apps like tendercare were built for exactly this. It helps you organize care plans, track appointments and medications, share updates with siblings, and store essential medical information — all from your phone. You can even store your kids’ health info alongside your parents’, keeping the whole family’s care journey at your fingertips.

Grieving While Giving

Mother’s Day can also stir up grief for those who’ve lost their own mothers while still needing to care for everyone else.

 If you’re mourning while mothering, know this: You’re not alone. 

Take a moment to honor them—whether through a favorite recipe, a photo album, a family tradition, or a simple moment of silence. Keeping their memory alive can be a powerful source of strength during difficult caregiving seasons.

Support for the Support System

Let this Mother’s Day be a moment of recognition; for moms who are quietly holding up two generations. 

And if you’re one of them: you deserve more than a card. 

You deserve real support, real rest, and real tools caregiving resources that make your life easier. The tendercare team sees you — and we’re here to stand with you through every caregiving challenge.

We also honor that motherhood comes in many forms: stepmoms, grandmothers, chosen family members, foster moms, and all those who nurture, care, and advocate with a mother’s heart. Having biological children isn’t the only way to be a mom.

Summary

Mother’s Day can feel different for moms in the sandwich generation. Balancing care for kids and aging parents is a whole new world and one that many individuals are unprepared for. By setting boundaries, sharing tasks, prioritizing selfcare, and using tools like the tendercare app, these incredible women can find the support they need - today and every day.