We talk so much about caring for our beloved elders, our extremely young family members, and our loved ones who have special needs, that sometimes we forget about one of the most common variations of family caregiver: those who are caring for our partners. I like to think of this kind of care as a different dialect within the language of love.
Still, as I try to be as ruthless as possible with deciding what to store until we find a new house, what to bring with us for the month or two we'll be staying with my mother, and what to sell or give away, what I remember is all the ways Mom helped Grandma find comfort and a sense of home in a house that wasn't hers, and I thought I'd share them here, because it's something many of us will experience as our own parents age.
This Mother's Day, take the extra time to let your Mom hear you from a heart space about special moments that mean so much to you.
Hopelessness is a BIG power emotion. I am usually the person that cheers others up, supports them, inspires them. So especially now, I thought it was essential to keep my chin up…..
As we proceed on this complex caregiving journey together, we hope you find ways to be a better friend to yourself.
Finding time to create space, and a little bit of quiet and calm can and will make a difference for you. Not only for your mental health but your physical health as well.
‘Dignity Pajamas’ was born out of a need to help my parents retain their dignity while traveling through the end journey of their long lives.