{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Ep. 161 - The Cost of Caregiving: A Conversation with Naaz Nichols of Care.com","description":"In this episode, we sit down with Naaz Nichols of Care.com to discuss the growing pressures on working parents, especially those in the \u201csandwich generation\u201d caring for both children and aging parents. Nichols highlights alarming trends, including a sharp decline in mothers\u2019 workforce participation driven by return-to-office mandates, high childcare costs, and limited flexibility. She underscores the urgent need for affordable childcare and senior care, workplace equity policies, and cultural shifts that normalize flexibility and caregiving support. The conversation explores the financial and emotional toll of caregiving, from families patching together multiple care arrangements to the staggering stress levels that leave many parents feeling isolated. Nichols shares personal stories, Care.com\u2019s new senior care offerings, and advice for caregivers: prioritize self-care, build support systems, and advocate openly for help. The episode closes with sobering insights on declining interest in parenthood, shaped by the high costs of caregiving   ","author_name":"Parenting Understood","author_url":"https:\/\/www.parentingunderstood.com","html":"