#cargiving – Conversation for Change

Caregivers Need Care Too

I believe caregiving is the toughest job on the planet. I have had a lot of jobs, and nothing compares. The exhaustion I often feel at the end of the day is brutal. Caregivers often feel like they have no choice or other options. They could relinquish the care to someone else, but they wantContinue reading “Caregivers Need Care Too”

Caregiver Burnout: Understand it. Prevent it.

Caregiver burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion. It may be accompanied by a change in attitude, from positive and caring to negative and unconcerned. Burnout can occur when caregivers don’t get the help they need, or if they try to do more than they are able, physically, emotionally, or financially. ManyContinue reading “Caregiver Burnout: Understand it. Prevent it.”

Just Don’t Quit

How have we made it work? How has our relationship lasted for over 36 years? There is no magic or secret sauce. The answer is simply not giving up on each other. We both refuse to quit.

Grief Within The Beauty

Grief is a part of this journey. You can be grateful for the child you are blessed with and grieve things that will never be. There is beauty beyond the grief and grief within the beauty.

Celebration Minus Expectation

I threw away the manual on milestones and expectations for Emily’s progress and achievements. I started to practice acceptance and release control.

Don’t Tell Her She’s Just a Van

Just in case you ever get a chance to meet her, please don’t tell her she is “just a van”. She believes she is so much more.

Wonderful But Not Restful Trip

Friday morning came too soon. I woke up exhausted. Emily was to go to school on the bus. I knew there was a 50/50 chance the bus would not show up and it did not. I loaded everything into my car and off to school we drove. I started crying on the way. I was tired and had reached a point of breaking down. At that moment, I realized that the trip had been fun, but it was also a lot of work. Todd and I had cared for Emily for the past 18 days with no help. She had trouble sleeping. She had panic attacks during every aspect of hygiene from bathing to toileting. She refused to help with transitional walking. My hips and body were sore and stiff from long hours sitting in the car and sharing a bed with Emily. My self-care had taken a back seat during the trip and I was feeling the results.

My Superpower: Adapt and Pivot

I like to have a plan. I love the look of my day planned out on paper. It is a map that gives me my direction for the day. I am not attached to any planner or scheduling tool. I use what is in front of me and make it work. I am currently usingContinue reading “My Superpower: Adapt and Pivot”