Parenting Over 50: You’re In for a Treat
"Midlife Dispatches: Wi-Fi Teens, Offline Parents, and Everything in Between"
If you're over 50, raising a teenager, and also looking after aging parents, welcome to the sandwich generation deluxe. It's not for the faint of heart—but oh, what a masterclass in love, patience, and perspective it can be.
This past month, I’ve felt the weight—and the beauty—of parenting in both directions.
On one end, I’m parenting my teenage kid: learning to let go, to trust, to guide without controlling. It’s about giving them tools, space, and yes, often being the student in the relationship. After all, they are digital natives. They know the tech, the platforms, the pace of today in ways I never will.
And it’s humbling—and refreshing—to learn from them.
On the other end, I’m parenting my parents, now well into their 80s.
I’m teaching them how to navigate a world that no longer speaks their language—apps, QR codes, online banking, digital medical appointments, two-step verifications.
I spend time trying to soften the hard edges of a system that has become fast, cold, and overwhelmingly complex for those who once relied on face-to-face conversations, handwritten notes, and direct human kindness.
It’s like all the patience I’ve been cultivating with my teen is being repurposed for my elders.
And honestly, it's the same heart work.
Teenagers and elders.
Two seemingly different generations, but I’m starting to believe they are the most vulnerable groups in our society.
Teenagers are trying to build an identity in a world that demands speed and performance, but often fails to teach them how to make a phone call or sit through a real-life conversation.
Elders are trying to hold on to dignity in a world that’s moved on without asking if they were coming along.
Both groups are misread. Misunderstood.
Labeled as difficult or out of touch.
Both need real connection, reassurance, and the unwavering presence of someone who sees their value, whether they can code an app or remember their password.
So here I am, in the middle, the bridge.
Some days it feels like too much. Like I’m stretched thin and invisible.
But on other days, it feels like I’m right where I need to be—rooted between the past and the future, offering what only those of us in the middle can:
The perspective of someone who remembers the "more human, easy, and straightforward world" my mother often longs for,
and someone who understands just enough of the new to not feel lost in it.
Parenting over 50 isn’t just about raising kids.
It’s about raising connection—in both directions.
And honestly?
It’s a treat.
A hard, exhausting, beautiful treat. love,
Big love,
Loretta
What about you?
Ever found yourself teaching your parent how to use Face ID while your teen rolls their eyes at your emoji choices? What’s been your most “parenting both ends” moment lately? love to hear your story. Comment below or email me.