Imagine being told the only way to end your suffering would be for your loved one to die. That is the sad reality Alzheimer’s families live with every day. Death is the only true escape for the suffering they endure and yet, they continue to show up to care for their loved one in hopes … Continue reading Caregiving Is Hard, But It’s Also Beautiful
Tag: mother daughter
Remembering My Two Moms
Yesterday I was at my parents’ house visiting my dad and I went upstairs to get something. Before I started back down the stairs, something made me pause and think about how my sister and I used to sit at the top of the stairs on Christmas morning, squealing with excitement, until my mom said … Continue reading Remembering My Two Moms
It’s Okay to Go Slow and Do What Feels Familiar
I set out to go for a short run in my neighborhood this morning. The weather was pretty gloomy, as it has been for the last few days, but I opted to run outside because I knew I needed it. This year has been heavy for everyone for many reasons, but for me it has … Continue reading It’s Okay to Go Slow and Do What Feels Familiar
There Are No Mistakes — Only Lessons
One day in the summer of 2014, about four years after my mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, she and I were hanging out in the pool at her house. It had been a trying summer, as my husband was away at a school for the military. His graduation was coming up in a few weeks … Continue reading There Are No Mistakes — Only Lessons
Your Loved One Won’t Remember, But You Will
I can’t tell you how many times during my mom’s Alzheimer’s journey I thought to myself, “Why bother? It’s not like she’s going to remember this anyway.” There was a time when I couldn’t even look at my mom without tearing up. Every time I saw her I would have to leave the room to … Continue reading Your Loved One Won’t Remember, But You Will
Sometimes You Have To Paint a Different Picture
After my mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, I spent a lot of time feeling sorry for myself. All I thought about was what I had lost and what I would never have. All the things my mom and I would no longer be able to do and all the things we would never get the … Continue reading Sometimes You Have To Paint a Different Picture
You Never Know What Someone Is Going Through
Whenever I see a woman out with her mother, I always think to myself, “Lucky!” or, “Must be nice!” If the woman is much older than me, I always think, “What?! How is that fair that she still has her mom, but I don’t have mine?!” It’s not lovely of me, but it’s true. I … Continue reading You Never Know What Someone Is Going Through
Six Months Without You
Dear Mom, It has been six months today since you passed away. There are still times when I think about you or look at a picture of you and I have to remind myself that you’re gone. It just doesn’t seem possible. It’s hard for me to wrap my mind around the fact that you … Continue reading Six Months Without You
Alzheimer’s Took So Much From Us, But I Am Grateful For What It Gave Us
Before my mom had Alzheimer’s, I never had to help her get dressed. I never had to help her use the bathroom. I never had to cut up her food for her so she could eat it. I never had to hold her hand when walking through a crowded room or down the street. I … Continue reading Alzheimer’s Took So Much From Us, But I Am Grateful For What It Gave Us
Nothing Is Worth Embarrassing Your Loved One
Back when I was a caregiver for my mom, one of our favorite things to do was get our hair done and then have lunch at Saladworks. We did this every couple of months and as time went on, it got harder and harder to do. She began having difficulty getting in and out of … Continue reading Nothing Is Worth Embarrassing Your Loved One