Daily Struggles Are Part Of Caregiving!

Do you have daily struggles? Well, how's it going for you today? Good, not so good, ok, could be much better...remember that life is a journey. We need to be slow and steady to win the race.

I am not going to pretend to have it all down pat. Nope! I am a real daughter with a real live mom, who can be difficult at times.

I have daily struggles just like you...and have some good days also, like you.

The last month though has gotten tougher physically.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel though.....it might be a long tunnel for you or a short one, I don't know. What I do know is that there is hope for all of us.

I am not going to pretend to have it all down pat. Nope! I am a real daughter with a real live mom, who can be difficult at times.

I have daily struggles just like you...and have some good days also, like you.

The last month though has gotten tougher physically.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel though.....it might be a long tunnel for you or a short one, I don't know. What I do know is that there is hope for all of us.

Mom struggles now and seems to be forgetting more and more lately and still insists on paying her own bills, which she has forgotten a few. She forgot to pay her cable bill for the month of November and told me that it was the electric bill. So I see more confusion than before.

Let me back up a little. Last night I had already gone to bed and was sound asleep. Next thing I know, I hear "Donna, come help me get in bed" then I heard "Oh no, I'm falling" and by the time I got to her room she was in the floor after a very hard jolt. She started fearing that I would call the nursing agency and started crying and begging me not to call the nurse or the squad. It puts you in a tight squeeze.

You can also struggle daily with bowel incontinence...so you know what that means. Yes! Some real big messes.

Mom still has a fairly good mind, so when she says not to do something you feel like you need to grant her wishes. It's her life, but you stand there feeling like you need to take some action but your hands are tied behind your back.

This is where the hope comes in-------now it didn't start making sense until lately.

My boss told me a few years ago..."do you want to be right or happy"? I know the right thing to do was automatically call the squad, but to keep mom happy, I didn't. The choices we have to make! This can be a very painful job.

We need to remember that our parents still have rights. It is tough getting older and they struggle, we don't want to strip them of everything. We have to give them dignity and let them make a few choices, whether they are right or wrong.

When you find yourself in one of those daily struggles that we often do, ask yourself "do I want to be right or happy"? It will help! It might not be easy or feel good but at the end of the day we will know that we made our parent happy and we will be happy. Just try it! I can't make any promises but it is only my opinion and my experience.

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