What do you see when you see me? Do you see what I’ve come to be? Do you see the mask I wear That hides the truth of all I bear? Do you see my strength, my skill My constant running all uphill? Do you see my desperate hope That with each change I still […]
What Do you See When You See Me? Read More »
I am obsessed with Lynn’s skin. Many years ago I worked as a home health nurse and I saw some terrible bedsores that started out small and then progressed to craters. Some of the patients had their entire backsides destroyed. Most of the breakdown, I expect, was due to inattention but some were also due
Struggles with Skin Care Read More »
The final stage of experiencing loss or grief is acceptance. Some people never get there; some get there quickly. Most of the time people step into and out of acceptance at various times based on what is happening around them or new challenges they face associated with the loss. For the caregiver, at least my personal
Stages of Loss: Acceptance Read More »
Many of my blogs focus on the feelings of loss, anger, fatigue, and the negative side of caregiving because that is what we caregivers find to be the most difficult to manage. It’s much easier to cope with happiness and being well-rested. But today I want to talk about “acceptance,” the final stage of grief and
Joy Comes in the Morning Read More »
I’m starting my “staycation” today. You know the kind; where you vacation at home so you can get things done that you never have time to do when you’re working. We normally vacation at the beach each year with our children but when the time came this year to pay off the rental, we realized that
“Can you come here a minute?” I hear that every 30-60 minutes all day long and you know what? It’s never a minute. When I enter his room to find out what he needs, I’m typically gone for 15-30 minutes. Being the chief cook, laundress, banker, shopper, mechanic, fixer-upper, and caregiver; as well as spouse,
Can You Come Here a Minute? Read More »
Let me start by saying that I’m not a psychiatrist nor a licensed counselor so what I mean is based on my own experiences in talking to others with disabilities, my own experience with family members, and my personal beliefs. Therefore, you may or may not agree with me, and that’s fine because this is a
Finding the Will to Live Read More »
When you first suspect your loved one has MS, you tend to find ways to deny it. Lynn kept saying his doctor had ruled it out. I kept saying, “Are you sure you’re telling him everything?” When he said, “Yes,” I would accept that as true because I wanted it to be true…denial. Then, the
Stages of Grief: Anger Read More »
One of the greatest struggles I have found in being a caregiver is finding the happy compromise of my husband’s need for independence and control of his life versus my need to control his environment and keep him safe and healthy. Many times these two needs seem to be in direct conflict with each other. Here’s
Independence Battles Protection Read More »
One of the most difficult aspects of caring for someone who has limited movement is getting them comfortable in bed; at least it is for me. When I lie down at night, I know it takes a few moves here and there just to find that right position of comfort that allows me to settle
Helping Him Get Comfortable in Bed Read More »
