Reflections of a Daughter of the Silent Generation and Mother of Generation Y
As my spouse and I drove 1400 miles to Maine where we’d set up shop for Mom and Cinnamon to join us, I tried to be brave, to count my lucky stars, to practice my faith. Fingers crossed, in prayer and gratitude.
—excerpt from Living Is for Living: A Caregiver’s Story
Getting Mom back to Maine among family and friends, the ocean near, was my own bucket list odyssey. My counselor said, “Some dreams do come true.” I hoped she was right.
—excerpt from Living Is for Living: A Caregiver’s Story
AA’s Step Ten: “Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.” These days, with how Mom’s Alzheimer’s anchors her in the moment, I’m grateful for how this slogan and Step Ten help me stay right here with her. (Al-Anon’s Twelve Steps & Twelve Traditions)
—excerpt from Living Is for Living: A Caregiver’s Story
AA’s Step Nine: “Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.” It felt good to take responsibility for that which weighed me down, setting it right the best I could and starting fresh, like five-year-old Siena sledding down a snowy hill shouting “Let Me Be Free!” (Al-Anon’s Twelve Steps & Twelve Traditions)
—excerpt from Living Is for Living: A Caregiver’s Story
AA’s Step Eight: “Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.” According to a fortune cookie, my life was about to get more interesting. It was time to move on with faith and open up to the healing ahead. (Al-Anon’s Twelve Steps & Twelve Traditions)
—excerpt from Living Is for Living: A Caregiver’s Story
AA’s Step Seven: “Humbly asked our Higher Power to remove our shortcomings.” Faith in a Higher Power…It’s what helped me, Mom still in Maine for a bit longer, in another’s care. #thankGodforHannah! (Al-Anon’s Twelve Steps & Twelve Traditions)
—excerpt from Living Is for Living: A Caregiver’s Story
AA’s Step Six: “Were entirely ready to have our Higher Power remove all these defects of character.” These days, Dad was my ever-present ally, his wisdom helping me care for Mom each step of the way. (Al-Anon’s Twelve Steps & Twelve Traditions)
—excerpt from Living Is for Living: A Caregiver’s Story
The challenges I faced as mother and daughter were strikingly similar, and what comforted me then, comforted me now: Faith is the way. Caregiving, like motherhood, is living proof of our Higher Power’s love.
When she got into bed, Mom said “I’m sorry” – I’m not quite sure for what. I answered “I’m sorry” back – I’m not quite sure for what for. It broke my heart even as I knew it meant that the part of her that I had feared had shut down for good was back. How lucky am I?
—excerpt from Living Is for Living: A Caregiver’s Story
“A defining event of my life occurred when I was 1 1/2 years old,” wrote Mom of a childhood infection, “I was lucky to survive.” I hoped that this time around, at almost 85, she would recover as she had back then. We just had to convince her to take her medicine!
—excerpt from Living Is for Living: A Caregiver’s Story
