PB& Jen
Because life doesn't happen in the highlights, it happens in the messy middle.
There’s a space most people don’t talk about.
The space between where I thought I’d be and where I actually am.
It’s where careers evolve (or unravel), kids grow up while parents grow older, and expectations don’t quite match reality. It’s where we’re holding it all together, and sometimes questioning all of it at the same time.
This is where I write from.
In the Messy Middle is a humorous, honest look at work, family, leadership, and life as it really happens, not as it’s curated to look. Because the middle isn’t a phase… it’s the work.
Notes from the Sandwich Generation
The messy middle is where I live, work, and write.
Hi, I'm Jen.
I have spent my career working in the space between people and business, where expectations, personalities, and reality don’t always line up neatly. Professionally, it has been called Human Resources.
I have spent the majority of my adult life living in the space between raising kids and caring for parents. It is where time and attention demands are often met by sacrificing sleep. Socially, it's called Middle Age.
I have come to think of my life as the messy middle. (Because "Ringmaster of the Shit Show" felt too...something.)
I am a wife, a mom, a daughter, and a sister. I am also a community volunteer, a leader, and a mentor. And let's not forget, I am also a caregiver, a carpool driver, a housekeeper, a "chef" (term used loosely), a pet wrangler, a schedule maintainer, an IT technician for the elderly, a locater of lost items, occasionally a writer, and a good, wine-drinking friend.
As someone who has spent a lot of time trying to hold things together with duct tape, glue guns, and misplaced papers while wondering when Hallmark will realize, this would make an awesome movie, this is my outlet.
This is the space where I write about that tension. I am not an expert with all the answers, because, if I was, Hallmark would have already called. No, I am someone living these adventures in real time.
Because most of us aren’t at the beginning or the end of our story… we’re somewhere in the messy middle.
PB& Jen
Short reflections on work, family, and everything in between, told with humor (hopefully), honesty (definitely), and a Gen X perspective (duh).
This is where real life meets real...umm...insight? wisdom? perspective?
It's like the old "Choose your own adventure" series. You decide.
Recent Columns
Weekly chronicles from the messy middle.
Finding the heart in the humor of multi-generational caregiving.
Embark on extraordinary adventures with our tailored travel experiences, designed for your enjoyment.
Keep it messy (in a good way)
Subscribe for new posts, small moments of perspective, and the occasional reminder that you’re not the only one holding a lot together.
HUMOR WITH HEART
The work behind the words
My writing is shaped by years of experience in leadership, workforce strategy, and navigating complex organizational dynamics. If you’re interested in the professional side of my work, you can find more here.
"Jen's humor helps me realize I'm not the only one hiding in the pantry with a bag of peanut butter cups while my toddler and my dad both nap."
Sarah M., Substack Subscriber
"A column that finally speaks the truth about the hilarious, heartbreaking, and messy middle of midlife. It's my weekly essential."
David L., Weekly Reader
"Every week, I find a piece of my own soul in these words. It's the companion I didn't know I needed on this journey."
Elena R., Long-time Follower
"Jen gives us that laughter, wrapped in a warm hug of shared experience. It's the highlight of my Sunday morning."
Mark T., Parent & Caregiver