“Do you think my book is good enough?” I’m sure my husband is so tired of me asking him that question. Now that all of the words have been written and edited and formatted into an actual book, I’m freaking out. I’m terrified that it isn’t good enough. I keep thinking of stories I didn’t … Continue reading The Story You Are Living Is Bigger Than You Know
Tag: caregiving
There’s a Lot of Grief When Caring for Someone with Alzheimer’s
“On top of the guilt is about ten thousand layers of grief. Your loved one is constantly changing and losing more pieces of themselves. You grieve all of the little losses along the way. The first time your loved one needs help eating, getting dressed, or using the bathroom. The first time they forget your … Continue reading There’s a Lot of Grief When Caring for Someone with Alzheimer’s
Your Loved One with Alzheimer’s Deserves to Be Loved
She got so upset with me for putting up the Christmas tree. She kept insisting that was something she and my dad were supposed to do together. I was just trying to do something nice for my mom and I wanted to keep it simple so my dad didn’t have to worry about taking down … Continue reading Your Loved One with Alzheimer’s Deserves to Be Loved
Sitting on the Sidelines to Care for Your Loved One with Alzheimer’s
The photo below was taken four years ago at my niece’s first birthday party—a party I helped plan, set up for, and desperately wanted to be a part of instead of just taking care of my mom the whole time. We knew this would most likely be the only birthday party that my mom would … Continue reading Sitting on the Sidelines to Care for Your Loved One with Alzheimer’s
My Mom Forgot Who I Was, But She Never Forgot My Love
About six or seven years ago, I was living far away from my parents while my husband attended flight school. I would stay at my parents’ house when I came home to visit every couple of months. One night during one of those visits, my parents had already gone to bed and I heard my … Continue reading My Mom Forgot Who I Was, But She Never Forgot My Love
You Are Entitled to Your Anger, But You Don’t Have to Live In It
Last week, we got about 8-9 inches of snow. That might not seem like a lot depending on where you’re from, but it’s a significant amount for us. And since my husband was away, I had the pleasure of shoveling it all by myself. Despite all of my “Let It Snow” decor, I’m actually not … Continue reading You Are Entitled to Your Anger, But You Don’t Have to Live In It
Hardship Is Not a Competition
I often felt guilty complaining about my situation when I knew there were so many people who had it worse. At the same time, I often felt resentful of all the people I knew who had it better. What I failed to realize is that it’s not a competition. Caregiving is not a competition. Hardship … Continue reading Hardship Is Not a Competition
Once You’ve Seen Alzheimer’s Firsthand, You Will Never Unsee It
The other day, I was at the grocery store when I saw this couple shopping together. They looked to be somewhere in their sixties. Something about them caught my eye. I stopped what I was doing and started watching them, watching her. And I just knew. My eyes filled to the brim with tears, as … Continue reading Once You’ve Seen Alzheimer’s Firsthand, You Will Never Unsee It
Stop Wasting Precious Time Wishing You Could Go Back to the Way Things Were
I spent a lot of time during my mom’s illness just wishing things could go back to the way they were. I mainly focused on what I had lost and I just wanted my mom to go back to the way she was before she got sick. At some point, it hit me. “Oh wait, … Continue reading Stop Wasting Precious Time Wishing You Could Go Back to the Way Things Were
Nobody Tells You That You’re Going to Miss the Hard Days, Too
Nobody tells you that you’re going to miss taking care of your loved one. That you’re going to miss feeding them and helping them use the bathroom. That you’re going to miss helping them stand up and pushing them down the street in their wheelchair. Nobody tells you that you’re going to miss the long, … Continue reading Nobody Tells You That You’re Going to Miss the Hard Days, Too
