You are what you believe you are. And, as a family caregiver, your perspective on your situation can make or break you. To help you keep a healthy perspective, we’ve come up with the following caregiving mantras:
- I am responsible for my own happiness. I am responsible for providing my care recipient with a safe environment and with appropriate care. I cannot make my care recipient happy—that’s his or her own responsibility.
- I am doing my best—which is the best I can do.
- I have the right to hopes and dreams. And, I have the right to regularly pursue these hopes and dreams.
- Each day brings different priorities. Sometimes, my care recipient takes priority. Sometimes, my job. Sometimes, my spouse. Sometimes, other family members and friends. And, sometimes, me.
- And, for when you take your much-deserved mini-vacation, tell your care recipient: I love you. I’ll miss you. I’ll be back in five days.
Do you have a favorite caregiving mantra? Share it with us in our Comments section.
Tags: mantras
My mantra is success involves obedience in all aspects of life..obedience to mom, myself and my family along with my dreams and keeping it all balanced will bring me success
I do well in most of these departments…So many of my hopes and dreams have already come true…as far as my future and the question of what I will do once mom is no longer here I believe will answer itself.
I do know every day I do my best….and I do take those mini vacations each day in order to care for myself..
The only thing I do need to work harder on is I do feel it is my job to try and keep Mom happy…I know deep down its not my responsibility…however if Im not entertaining her in some shape or form she literally will sleep all day…that bothers me…so I feel like the entertainer constantly.
its hard for me to go out with kevin and leave her alone…it really is…but I am working on this….I wish I had other family members around sometimes just to visit her when I leave…kevins nieces wedding I did not feel guilt because it was something out of my control to attend without so we went and had fun guilt free..but how does one go to breakfast on sunday and not include her…I cant!!…I just cannot do that to her…
so Im trying!!…and Im printing this weekly comfort out so I can remind myself deep down it really isnt my sole responsibility for her happiness..she could be in a far worse place than she is….she has had 91 wonderful years for which I am very grateful!!…Balance!!….being obedient to myself will bring me success!!!!!!!