Parental Advisory In Reverse

Allison Luthe

Welcome to Parental Advisory — In Reverse, a podcast for Gen-Xers suddenly parenting the people who raised us. I’m Allison — a 50-year-old daughter caregiving for both parents at once: my dad is receiving hospice care, and my mom recently lost her driving privileges. It’s the joy, the tears, the snark, and the dark humor that come when the roles flip and midlife gets very real. From unpaid bills to ice cream runs to brain tumors and bittersweet laughs, we’ll figure it out together — because Gen-X has been figuring shit out since the 80s. 🎙️ Honest. Emotional. Funny. 💗 #GenX #Caregiving #ReverseParenting

Episodes

  1. Mar 31

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

    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 parentHow Medicaid programs can support family caregivingThe emotional and practical realities of caring for someone at homeThe decision-making process behind choosing assisted livingWhy caregiving is about more than love—it’s about capacityIf 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.

  2. Mar 17

    Episode 7: Making Ammends in the Middle of Caregiver with Cecilee

    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.

  3. 11/17/2025

    Episode 1 (edited): Caregiving is a Right of Passage with Hadiah

    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 passageHow to support aging parents while respecting their independenceNavigating driving safety and driving privilege conversationsThe real emotional weight of stepping into the caregiver roleA surprise phone call from Mom (because this is real life!)Tips for showing up without losing yourselfHow 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.

About

Welcome to Parental Advisory — In Reverse, a podcast for Gen-Xers suddenly parenting the people who raised us. I’m Allison — a 50-year-old daughter caregiving for both parents at once: my dad is receiving hospice care, and my mom recently lost her driving privileges. It’s the joy, the tears, the snark, and the dark humor that come when the roles flip and midlife gets very real. From unpaid bills to ice cream runs to brain tumors and bittersweet laughs, we’ll figure it out together — because Gen-X has been figuring shit out since the 80s. 🎙️ Honest. Emotional. Funny. 💗 #GenX #Caregiving #ReverseParenting