Today on Your Caregiving Journey, Donna Ryan joined us to talk about her recent trip to Atlanta with her mom. (You can listen to our discussion via the player at the bottom of this post.)
Toward the end of the show, we talked about the worry about discussing caregiving with non-caregiving friends. With the worry comes the concern that complaining could be misinterpreted as being disrespectful to a caree.
This conversation reminded me of another I recently had with another family caregiver. She, like Donna, made the decision to move her mom into her home. She, as does Donna, recognizes this decision as a choice. They both made a choice that having their caree live with them would best.
The family caregiver felt terribly guilty about expressing any frustration about her mom or her caregiving situation. It’s my choice, she said. I must just bear it.
It’s important to remember that within the choice lies difficulties. To vent about those difficulties is healthy. Expressing the sadness, loneliness and frustration of caregiving will help you find ways to manage the sadness, loneliness and frustration.
Making a choice about caregiving doesn’t mean you’ve also chosen to silently bear the difficulties. Share those difficulties with those who can understand and support so you can continue to feel good about your choice.
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Stop by February 5 for our Super Sunday Open House!
Just listened to the show, great job Donna, once again you confirm, the bond and unity that has been developing between you and I. You both had me in tears because different things you said hit so deep. I don’t have friends and I really don’t have family in the area of regular support in all this. So, it is actually painful to find myself finally developing relationships with other caregivers and support people (Denise), that 100% understand me and what I have gone through and go through now, and I am free to be whoever I am on any given day at any time. I am still crying, you both have just touched my heart so much!
Thank you to both of you, and to all the other caregivers I have been blogging with as well.
.-= Donna W´s last blog ..The – Negativity – of Being – Negative - =-.
thank you denise for once again inviting me to tell my story. After listening back I noticed I do ramble on and on a bit dont I lol…I just hope I got my point across that there are enormous emotions attached to this job I am now in but lots of rewards as well….donna, like I said you are incredibly special to me. there are many definitions of friends as far as im concerned…while my real wish would be to have you live next door I know I can get this keyboard out and write you anytime and you will have my answer. I wish I had listed so many other friends today with stories far more courageous than mine like yours sharon and yours lillie….and ms r who wrote a very touching piece yesterday….
I admire you all….but donna and her story with her mom reminds me of my mom and I for some reason….
thank you all for this opportunity and for your caring and friendship…and know i am here for all of you as well..