Respite Resources 1.28.25

Care Policy, Resources, and Fun Distractions

Last week was tough. I expected bad, but it’s been worse. Except for the parts where I stopped reading the news for a bit and celebrated my birthday and was reminded that I am fortunate and have amazing family and friends to get me through hard times. I was even given a Super! Rare! Combo! gift certificate from my son for some chores that I can make him do whenever I want. Clearly he has gathered that my love language is Acts of Service.

Still, it’s been an exhausting first week of what will be a long and painful four years (or more). I have definitely felt all the feelings of anger, sadness, and fear. But my intention moving forward is to develop coping strategies that allow me to protect my peace and joy while organizing and resisting in whatever ways I can. Not sure exactly what that looks like yet, except that it will include more in-person engagement with like-minded folx in my local and global communities. What is keeping you sane? If you have ideas and strategies, please share them!

Today I’m changing it up with a curated list of reads for you to make your way through. Some directly care-related, some only tangentially - yet I felt they would all resonate in some way with this special group of caring readers. Let me know if this is something that you want to see more of. Enjoy!

Care Policy

What to Expect on Child Care from Trump’s Second Presidency Anything goes in this new paradigm we’re living in, but here are some evidence-based predictions from a care policy reporter.

America Needs to Radically Rethink What it Means to Be Old Our way of thinking and preparing for and supporting aging is wildly outdated given life expectancies and care needs. “The key is to see aging as a state of flux involving us all and not an event or a state that segregates one group from another.”

Read: Draft Options for G.O.P. Cost Cuts for Tax Bill Many important programs that benefit caregivers and those who need care are already on the chopping block.There are proposed Medicaid cuts, as well as cuts to the one (insufficient) incentive to help Americans with childcare costs, the Child and Depended Care Tax Credit (CDCTC).

Care Resources

Get Your Shit Together Classes, checklists, tools and excellent resources for end-of-life planning. Super helpful resource!

Family Caregiver Alliance A wealth of resources on a wide range of topics for caregivers and care recipients, and a newly updated (and free) care navigator dashboard to receive personalized recommendations.

Caring Across Generations An advocacy and policy change organization promoting better care systems at all levels. Led by the legendary Ai-Jen Poo.

Books

These are books I’ve enjoyed lately. They each hold wisdom and empathy coming from very different identities and experiences, and speak to some of the most pressing issues of these times we’re living in. I’m realizing I really enjoy a good memoir!

The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer. An extended essay about the concept of the gift economy, and what native wisdom and nature can teach us about alternatives to the scarcity mindset of extractive capitalism. While the concept most obviously points to climate issues and inequality, it also makes so much sense in the context of care.

Solito by Javier Zamora. A memoir about Zamora’s journey from El Salvador to the US when he was only nine years old, with no family to accompany him. Heart wrenching and eye opening.

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner. Memoir from the lead singer of Japanese Breakfast about caring for her mother until the end of her battle with late stage cancer. I could relate to her memories of growing up in the PNW and her fraught relationship with - yet ultimate pull to care for - her mother.

Distractions & Reflections

The Dingus of the Week from

Men Yell at Me

, this is something I look forward to every Friday. In dark times, you can’t go wrong with political satire (ok you can, but Lyz always nails it). Last week’s dingus was ‘everyone except Bishop Buddhe’.

Patternmaking, Vol. 2 a small but growing community sharing in the felt experience of aligning how we live with who we want to be together through writing and art.

A Handful of Reasons to Be Hopeful (Yes, We Found Some) and I highly recommend checking out other articles on The Persistent - a new-ish women-led, independent journalism outlet.

This is 46!

Let me know what you liked (or didn’t) and what you’re reading!

Finally - are you a sandwich caregiver, or do you know someone who is that might want to share their story to be featured in Gen Xandwich? Message me or reply to this email!

Love & care,

Anna