Episode 8: Caregiving, Capacity, and Choosing What Works with Katina

Episode Description:

There’s no one “right” way to care for someone you love.

In this episode of Parental Advisory—In Reverse, I talk with Katina, who is caring for her mother at home—and getting paid through a Medicaid program to do it. For her, this is the right choice. It allows her to be present, to provide consistent care, and to keep her mom in a familiar environment.

And in this same moment… my sister and I have made a very different decision.

We recently moved our mom into an assisted living facility after navigating the realities of her diagnosis, safety needs, cost, and our own capacity to provide care.

This conversation isn’t about which option is better.

It’s about how different families make different decisions—with the resources, support, and circumstances they have.

Inside this episode, we talk about:

• What it looks like to be a paid caregiver for a parent
• How Medicaid programs can support family caregiving
• The emotional and practical realities of caring for someone at home
• The decision-making process behind choosing assisted living
• Why caregiving is about more than love—it’s about capacity

If you’ve ever questioned whether you’re making the “right” decision for someone you love… this episode is for you.

👉 Want to learn more about getting paid as a caregiver through Medicaid?
Start here:
https://www.usa.gov/disability-caregiver#:~:text=Become%20a%20paid%20caregiver%20through%20a%20state%20Medicaid%20program&text=Many%20states%20call%20this%20a,Medicaid%20office%20for%20more%20information.

Different families. Different choices. No judgment.

Take care of yourselves, everyone. 

Episode #7: Making Amends in the Middle of Caregiving with Cecilee

Caregiving doesn’t just reveal who our parents are.

It reveals who we are, too.

In this episode of Parental Advisory in Reverse, Allison sits down with her friend Cecilee for an honest conversation about one of the quieter parts of caregiving: regret.

Cecilee shares openly about moments during her mother’s care that she’s not proud of — the stress, the exhaustion, the old family dynamics that sometimes surface when adult children step into the role of caregiver. This conversation is her opportunity to reflect, make amends, and talk honestly about what many caregivers experience but rarely say out loud.

Because caregiving is rarely neat or perfect.

It’s human.

And sometimes growth begins with simply telling the truth about the moments we wish we had handled differently.

Allison also shares a personal update on her own family’s journey. Around the time this episode was recorded, her mother received encouraging news that the cancer was not spreading. But even with that good news, the side effects of treatment have been significant — leading Allison and her sister to make the decision to move their mom to Indianapolis so she can be closer to them.

The move will end the regular two-hour weekend drives across the Midwest, but it also begins a new chapter: helping their mom leave the community she has lived in for fifty years.

Along the way, there have also been some unexpected moments of humor — including her mom’s recent belief that the house she has lived in for decades has secretly been turned into a care facility… with business potential.

Future episodes will share some of the lighter moments that can happen even in the middle of difficult seasons.

If you're caring for aging parents, navigating complicated family relationships, or simply trying to do your best in a hard season of life, this episode is for you.

Topics in this episode

• Caregiving and adult children
• Making amends with aging parents
• Navigating regret in caregiving
• Supporting parents with cancer
• Family caregiving realities
• Finding humor during difficult seasons

Take care everyone.

Episode 6: A Quick, Honest Check-In From Me

This week’s episode is a little different — it’s just me. No guest, no long conversation, just an honest eight-minute check-in about what caregiving has looked like in real time.

I talk about the whirlwind of the last few days: the Packers game that didn’t spark the reaction we hoped for… how no one preares you for a catheter… and how we even had to let go of a caregiver whose strengths were activities and cooking — not the medical care we need now.

It’s been overwhelming and humbling, but we're still pushing through.

If you’re in the thick of caring for aging parents, or navigating daily changes that feel impossible to keep up with, I hope these few minutes help you feel a little less alone.

New interviews return next week — but for now, thanks for listening to this small, real-life moment with me.

Take care of yourself.

Episode 4: Losing the Mom You Knew, Finding Compassion in the Change with Becky

In this episode, Becky embodies the Gen X experience of being the responsible one—even when she’s fed up, stretched thin, and caring for a mother who, in her words, “isn’t even my mom anymore.”

Becky shows up for Mary Margaret with grit, humor, and a surprising amount of grace as she navigates memory loss, identity shifts, and the emotional whiplash of caregiving. If you’ve ever felt the tug-of-war between duty and resentment—or the strange moments of gratitude that sneak in anyway—this conversation will hit home.

We talk about:
• What it feels like to care for a parent who feels like a stranger
• The invisible labor Gen X is carrying
• Moments of levity that make the hard days survivable
• Accepting help, setting boundaries, and finding slivers of joy
• How caregiving confronts you with pieces of your past—and still leaves behind love

Grab a tissue—this episode is tender, real, and surprisingly funny.

Parental Advisory in Reverse shares real stories from Gen X adults taking care of the people who once took care of us.

Episode 3: Laughing Through the Tears with Abby

In this episode of Parental Advisory in Reverse, Abby shares the raw, tender, and unexpectedly funny realities of caring for her father at the end of his life. From honoring his wishes - even when she would’ve preferred an easier path - to the fair food at his bedside that somehow became a cherished memory, Abby reminds us how love shows up in the everyday moments.

She opens the door to the things you don’t know that you don’t know about hospice, the emotional whiplash of caregiving, and the beauty hidden inside those final weeks. Her stories will make you laugh, cry, and maybe both at the same time.

Up next? Becky, and you might need more than just one Kleenex. She’s the epitome of the Gen Xer who’s tired of being the responsible one, yet somehow still finds gratitude in showing up for her mom, Mary Margaret.

If you're supporting aging parents or preparing for what's ahead, this episode is for you.

Parental Advisory In Reverse Podcast

Episode 2: Love, Friction, and Full-Time Caregiving with Tracy

In this episode, I sit down with my friend Tracy, who found herself unexpectedly living full-time with her parents and carrying the weight of round-the-clock caregiving—no breaks, barely any breathing room, just a hard dose of reality for everyone involved.

Tracy talks openly about the mix of love and friction in her family, how caregiving tested her in ways she never saw coming, and what it was like when she and her siblings had to make the difficult decision to move their mother into a care facility after their father passed away unexpectedly.

We explore the real, unpolished side of caregiving: shifting family roles, emotional whiplash, and the massive gap between what we think caregiving will be and what it truly demands.

If you’re navigating caregiving—or love someone who is—you’ll feel seen in this conversation.

Take Care. 

Welcome to Episode 1 of Parental Advisory  In Reverse, the podcast sharing real, unfiltered stories about Gen X adults caring for aging parents.

In this episode, I’m joined by my friend Hadiah, who talks about caregiving as a rite of passage — an opportunity to honor, support, and give back to the woman who shaped her. We dive into the emotional, complicated, and often unexpected realities of caring for aging parents, including one of the hardest conversations many families face: when and how to address driving privileges and safety.

And in a perfect twist, Hadiah’s mom actually calls during the interview, giving us a genuine, unscripted moment that every caregiver can relate to. 😂📞

This episode offers practical insight, emotional truth, and real-life humor for anyone navigating elder care, parent caregiving, or the Gen X caregiver experience.

⭐ What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

• Why caregiving can feel like a meaningful rite of passage
• How to support aging parents while respecting their independence
• Navigating driving safety and driving privilege conversations
• The real emotional weight of stepping into the caregiver role
• A surprise phone call from Mom (because this is real life!)
• Tips for showing up without losing yourself
• How Gen X is redefining what modern caregiving looks like

⭐ About the Show

Parental Advisory — In Reverse is a storytelling podcast for Gen X adults caring for the people who raised us. Real conversations, real-life caregiving, and the moments you can’t make up.

Because you’re not alone — and you deserve care, too.

⭐ If This Episode Resonates:

✔ Follow the show
 ✔ Leave a rating or review
 ✔ Share with someone on their caregiving journey
 ✔ Tag the podcast on social media so we can connect

...Take care, everyone.

In June of 2025, I quit my CEO job to work remotely full-time. The plan was to travel anywhere and everywhere with a Wi-Fi signal.
 Sixty days later, I’m driving back and forth every week to my small hometown, helping both of my parents through serious health challenges.

This wasn’t the plan — but it’s where I’m at.
 So I started a podcast.

Parental Advisory — In Reverse is about caregiving, Gen-X grit, and finding humor (and a little hope) in the chaos of loving the people who raised us.

This short teaser gives you a glimpse of what’s coming — stories about hospice, humor, unpaid bills, ice cream runs, and the weirdly tender moments in between.

🎧 Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube — and join me for the launch of Episode 1: Losing the Car Keys and Control.

#GenX #Caregiving #ReverseParenting #PodcastLaunch #ParentalAdvisoryInReverse