A travel journal for the caregiving journey Journaling has been a way to process the complexities of caregiving, the emotions, the fear, and the confusion. It has been a way to capture fun and funny moments. We will have a record of the experience and a travel journal that documents the caregiving journey. It will […]
Dad, Daughter and Déjà Vu: Two Journals, One Shared Theme Read More »
Family caregivers often feel isolated. Shelter in place is Standard Operating Procedure. Physical distancing, or Isolation 2.0 for me meant that my mini escapes were no longer an option. Otherwise, after the initial preparation, COVID19 isolation doesn’t feel much different than pre-virus life. “Mostly it is loss which teaches us about the worth of things.”
Isolation 2.0: Caregiving + COVID19 Read More »
The Resistance In the beginning, I resisted routine. A routine meant I was locked in, locked into this role and locked into the responsibility. It signified the loss of spontaneity, the loss of control over how I spent my time, the loss of freedom. I felt that once I acquiesced to the routine, I was
Embrace the Routine Read More »
Conditional compassion I needed a compass to find my way back to compassion. First, I needed to remember what it was, what it felt like. I remembered having it and watching it slip away as circumstances became more challenging. Was compassion conditional, like conditional love? Will I feel and show compassion only if deserved and
My Journey to Sustainable Compassion Read More »
Amor Fati. This is the tattoo I will earn. For me, love your fate, signifies embracing rather than accepting my situation. The concept led me to the revelation that I was resisting the relationship rather than the caregiving role. Further examination helped me reach a place of clarity and calm. I resented the tether that
Amor Fati: Love Your Fate! Read More »
The blueberry battle Our letting go muscles are useful for more than just accepting and receiving help. They serve us when our inner child goes into battle with our parent. The battle may look new, but peel back the layers and uncover the struggles of an adolescent and parent, a teen and parent co-existing in
Pick your battles: Are you willing to die on this hill? Read More »
“Put a dot after those who leave, so that the names of those who come start with capitals.” Plato must have been a caregiver! Caregiving is lonely because friends and family often abandon ship when the waters get rough. You are so busy keeping the boat afloat that you don’t notice that you are alone
10 Ways the Family Caregiver Can Stay Afloat with Help Read More »
According to Family Caregiver Alliance, “Regardless of employment status, unpaid caregivers report that positive activities in their respective daily lives are reduced by 27.2% as a result of their caregiving responsibilities. This effect is three times greater in their personal lives than their professional lives.” Pre-caregiving, I spent hours at the Y and in the
Thrive or Survive: Self-Care and Caregiving Read More »
Family caregiving and weight management seemed mutually exclusive. Caregiving is stressful. Comfort food is comforting. It is also fast and filling, which is exactly what we reach for when we are overwhelmed and juggling our many tasks. My strategy was simply to stay alive. It was survival eating, but it was killing me. Blood pressure
Sustainability Super Powers: Routine and Protein Read More »
Runaway rollercoaster I remember feeling like I was on a runaway rollercoaster, but not exactly on it. I was hanging onto the last car with one hand, feet swinging in the wind. With each twist and drop, my grip would loosen. My situation was not sustainable. It was just a matter of time before I
How Do We Sustain Our Ability to Provide Care? Read More »
