Grief Shows Up When You Least Expect It

A few weeks ago, I was at Old Navy shopping for some new clothes. I had a gift card that had been burning a hole in my wallet for months, so I finally decided to use it. I was about halfway through the women’s section, carrying a huge pile of clothes over my arm, mindlessly … Continue reading Grief Shows Up When You Least Expect It →

Forgive Yourself, You’re Doing the Best You Can

I have always hated this picture. I look like I’m disgusted with my mom. I look like I’m embarrassed and ashamed of her. I look like I don’t want anything to do with her. I remember that I didn’t really want to touch her because she was sweaty from dancing by herself all … Continue reading Forgive Yourself, You’re Doing the Best You Can →

How to Love an Alzheimer’s Daughter

My husband recently told me that he doesn’t remember what I was like before my mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. I guess that’s fair. We only started dating one year before I started noticing changes in my mom and only two years before she was officially diagnosed. We actually got engaged the same month my … Continue reading How to Love an Alzheimer’s Daughter →

I Just Want to Make My Mom Proud

I am just like my mom. The older I get, the more I realize this. My mom has a big heart. She always thinks about other people’s feelings first. She always puts other people’s needs before her own. She always gives her all for the people she loves, even when she doesn’t get it in … Continue reading I Just Want to Make My Mom Proud →

Alzheimer’s Can’t Take Away Your Love

With this ring... This is my mom’s wedding ring. I saw it sitting on her dresser the last time I went home and it stopped me in my tracks. She hasn’t been able to wear it in years. She would play with it, taking it on and off her finger, and my dad was afraid … Continue reading Alzheimer’s Can’t Take Away Your Love →

You Don’t Have to Suffer in Silence

When I was 12 years old, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was getting ready for basketball practice one night, when I heard her whispering on the phone to my Aunt Diane. It sounded like something was going on, but she was trying to hide it. I asked her what she was talking … Continue reading You Don’t Have to Suffer in Silence →

My Mom Knows Me

When I tell someone my mom has Alzheimer’s, the first thing they usually ask is, “Does she know who you are?” There was a time when I could confidently answer, “Yes, she does.” People always seemed so relieved to hear that. “Oh, that’s good!” While it was good that my mom still knew who I … Continue reading My Mom Knows Me →

Here’s Why You Should Start a Gratitude Journal

For those who don’t already know, I make a gratitude list after every FaceTime call with my mom and dad. I used to dread FaceTiming with them and I would hang up feeling so depressed. It made me not want to FaceTime with them. I would avoid it at all costs. I knew I had … Continue reading Here’s Why You Should Start a Gratitude Journal →

Take the Picture

When my mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, I didn’t know that she would eventually stop looking at the camera. Not because she didn’t want her picture taken, but because she had no idea what that meant. I didn’t know that she would have a distant look in her eyes, that she would no longer look … Continue reading Take the Picture →

The Stories That Bind Us

I had a doctor’s appointment the other day and while the nurse was taking my vitals, she told me how much she liked my bracelets. Normally, I would just say thank you, but that day I decided to add that the bracelets are for Alzheimer’s awareness. She told me that her grandmother had Alzheimer’s and … Continue reading The Stories That Bind Us →