Only about 4% of U.S. pet owners have pet insurance

Pet care costs are rising, yet not enough people are doing something about it. Pet insurance can significantly offset rising costs – all for as low as $10 a month. Want to join the 4% club?

JOIN THE CLUB

🧭 STUCK IN THE MIDDLE NEWS
Issue #182 – Monday, June 2, 2025
For those caring for parents, raising kids, working, and trying to stay married.

🧠 Today’s Insight: Stop Apologizing for Needing Help

If you’re carrying the weight of your parents’ appointments, your kid’s meltdown, your inbox, and your sanity—all at the same time—let this sink in:

You don’t have to be the hero.
You just have to be human.

As sandwich generation members, we’re surrounded by impossible expectations—self-imposed and otherwise. We juggle caregiving, parenting, career demands, and emotional labor like it’s normal. But the truth is, asking for help is not weakness. It’s wisdom.

This week, I’m challenging you to do one thing:
✅ Ask for one kind of help—without guilt or apology.
That could be:

• Delegating one chore to your partner or kid

• Asking your sibling to take one parent to the doctor

• Telling your boss you need an extra day to finish something

The world won’t end. You’ll just breathe easier.

🔗 3 Things That Might Just Help This Week

1. The Myth of Doing It All—Debunked
A psychologist explains why high-performing people often crumble silently—and what to do instead.
🔗 https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/24/well/family/caretaker-burnout-advice.html

2. You’re Not Failing—You’re Just Exhausted
Practical tips for people who feel like they’re running on fumes (because you are).
🔗 https://www.npr.org/2024/03/29/1241259983/how-to-recover-from-burnout

3. How to Say No Without Guilt
Boundaries are oxygen for caregivers. Here’s how to set them clearly and kindly.
🔗 https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-set-boundaries

✅ Reader Resource: The “What Can I Let Go Of?” Checklist

Too much on your plate? This $9.99 checklist helps you identify what to release, delegate, or delay—so you can stop drowning in guilt.
🔗 https://briansacks.samcart.com/products/sandwich

💬 Tell Me...

What’s one thing you’re no longer going to apologize for?
Hit reply and let me know—I read every response.

You’re doing more than enough. Really.
—Brian
Publisher, Stuck in the Middle News
📬 Join our Facebook Group → https://www.facebook.com/groups/stuckinthemiddlenews

THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT BOOKS YOU CAN READ IF YOU ARE FRUSTRATED WITH A PARENT OR OLDER RELATIVE

grab a copy here https://amzn.to/3QIhlx7

If you are in this situation I think you will enjoy it!

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