Aging Parents

In this heartfelt episode of Know Them, Be Them, Raise Them, hosts Carmelita (Cat) Tiu and Irene Uy explore the emotional, cultural, and practical challenges of caring for aging parents while raising children—a reality many face in the “sandwich generation.” Cat opens up about her personal journey of navigating guilt, distance, and love, while Irene offers thoughtful reflections on honoring both our parents’ independence and our desire to protect them.

Episode Highlights

[00:00:00] Cat and Irene set the tone for this new season—showing up more vulnerably and sharing real-life experiences.

[00:01:00] Cat opens up about her parents’ aging—memory issues, emotional ups and downs, and how it impacts her whole family.

[00:03:00] The emotional weight of supporting elderly parents while managing a career and raising kids—the “sandwich generation.”

[00:05:00] A story from The Five Types of Wealth by Sahil Bloom sparks reflection on how little time we may have left with loved ones.

[00:08:00] Accepting that not every decision about family caregiving has a perfect answer—and learning to live with discomfort.

[00:09:30] Irene reframes the question: What does it mean to be a good enough daughter?

[00:11:00] Cultural influences on caring for parents—Cat reflects on her Filipino and Chinese heritage and how it shapes expectations.

[00:14:00] Balancing guilt, love, and logistics when parents live far away.

[00:18:00] When your parents resist moving closer—understanding their reasons and their autonomy.

[00:20:00] Respecting that our parents still have full, meaningful lives of their own.

[00:23:00] Planning ahead—Cat’s efforts with her siblings to stay connected and prepare for future care decisions.

[00:27:00] Finding peace in knowing your parents are still choosing joy in their current season of life.

[00:30:00] Encouraging practical steps: talking about wills, important documents, and sharing memories while you still can.

[00:32:00] Cat’s emotional reflection on wanting her daughters to truly know their grandparents.

[00:38:00] Acknowledging grief, love, and the feeling of lost opportunities—how emotion deepens our appreciation for family.

[00:40:00] Letting go of worry and control—learning to trust life’s timing.

[00:43:00] Choosing joy over anxiety and embracing presence over preparation.

[00:46:00] Redefining connection—quality over quantity in relationships with our parents.

[00:47:00] Closing reflections: Modeling healthy family relationships and holding gratitude for the time we have.

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🌐 Resources & Mentions

 Five Types of Wealth: By. Sahil Bloom

https://amzn.to/47CBCgM

Sandwich Generation By: Leonel Guerrero

https://amzn.to/47xzAyB

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