Sharon's Case Studies
FAMILY CRISIS
WHO IS MARGARET?
SHARON: Margaret (not her real name)is deeply compassionate and has a contagious sense of humor. She will be required to draw on these qualities to face her immense family obligations.
The complimentary 15-minute phone consultation gave Margaret a chance to describe how overwhelmed she felt by the financial and emotional demands of her family.
MARGARET: I feel like I’m being pulled apart by the financial and emotional needs of my family. There just doesn’t seem to be enough of me to go around. Somehow I have to move my mother here from out of state and find a nursing home close by. And now I'm responsible for managing her finances. I'm also dealing with my daughter's housing crisis. She lot her job and is not paying the rent--and I'm the co-signer on the rental agreement. What am I going to do about that? Meeting the needs of my mother, daughter and grandchildren seems like taking on a second job.
SHARON: This is the question that Margaret asked. It will be the one to guide our work together.
How am I going to find the time, the money and the energy to help my family?
SHARON: Margaret (not her real name)is deeply compassionate and has a contagious sense of humor. She will be required to draw on these qualities to face her immense family obligations.
The complimentary 15-minute phone consultation gave Margaret a chance to describe how overwhelmed she felt by the financial and emotional demands of her family.
MARGARET: I feel like I’m being pulled apart by the financial and emotional needs of my family. There just doesn’t seem to be enough of me to go around. Somehow I have to move my mother here from out of state and find a nursing home close by. And now I'm responsible for managing her finances. I'm also dealing with my daughter's housing crisis. She lot her job and is not paying the rent--and I'm the co-signer on the rental agreement. What am I going to do about that? Meeting the needs of my mother, daughter and grandchildren seems like taking on a second job.
SHARON: This is the question that Margaret asked. It will be the one to guide our work together.
How am I going to find the time, the money and the energy to help my family?
MARGARET'S MONEY DANCE EXPERIENCE.
MARGARET: During our first appointment, Sharon and I came up with a plan to adjust my working hours until I get my mother situated in a nursing home. Then we reviewed the family’s investments that will be used for my mother's move to a nursing home. After many discussions with Sharon about the financial challenges I’m facing with my daughter, I realized that it is not my responsibility to fund her mistakes, and that I can support her in many ways that do not involve financial support. My daughter's disorganized financial life helped me commit to doing a better job of handling my own finances and becoming a mentor for my grandchildren. As the months rolled by, Sharon consistently kept me focused on the tasks that I was to complete between meetings. I got in the habit of phoning Sharon when I needed encouragement or reminders. That got me through the tough times. Now I feel more prepared to handle any change that comes my way because I've now a smarter, stronger person financially and emotionally.
MARGARET'S UPDATE
SHARON: Dealing with her own financial issues along with those of her mother and daughter was a tall order. But Margaret found the strength and staying power she needed to persevere. Her mother was relocated to a near-by nursing home. And once boundaries were clearly communicated to Margaret's daughter, their relationship improved.
SHARON: Dealing with her own financial issues along with those of her mother and daughter was a tall order. But Margaret found the strength and staying power she needed to persevere. Her mother was relocated to a near-by nursing home. And once boundaries were clearly communicated to Margaret's daughter, their relationship improved.
Sharon Cox, CFP | 650.722.2791 | sharon@themoneydance.com
