This is a week of transitions for our family. For our son, junior high ends and high school begins. Tuesday is the promotion party, no graduation ceremony any more, and Wednesday is the last day of school. Steve’s 56th birthday is Friday. That day also marks six months since his employer put him out on disability. And the high school stuff is already starting with a band parent meeting tonight, cross country meeting later in the week and PTA meeting another afternoon. They don’t miss a beat transitioning from one school to the next! I was surprised to discover what a sick feeling the evening’s meeting was giving me in my stomach.
In the last few days, Steve has received phone calls from and about two friends getting divorces. More transitions.
We hired a new cognitive therapist – our son. Where we were going wasn’t working for Steve on so many levels. Our son can research the internet for ideas, and really spend half an hour twice a week, the same amount of time Steve is supposed to be going, really focusing on Steve and seeing what does and doesn’t work. Another transition.
Transitioning toward the end of school, we reassigned household chores tonight, both so that everyone has a part in the family being a success, and so that I’m not the only one doing everything when there are three capable people here.
Next week is another transition for our son, back into phase 2 of braces. Lots of appointments to schedule for full mouth braces. No wonder he’s eating so much sticky candy lately! He’s got to get it in before the braces.
And as I sat down to write this, we had an earthquake. One of the rolling types, at least by the time it got up here (5.9 down near San Diego they are saying), so it was more wondering why the blinds were moving so much until the truth registered.
An earthquake is kind of like the ups and downs of caregiving. You don’t know when it will hit, but you’re supposed to be prepared for it. Sometimes, like tonight, you’re not even sure you’re having an earthquake and have to look at hanging lamps to see if they are moving. And with all our family’s transitions this week, it would sure help if there was a lamp I could watch to see if the transitions are going smoothly.
You are a disruptor. The delivery of health care starts with you, continues because of you, and ends with you. Let's disrupt together to make the world better for family caregivers. 
Kaye Swain
Oh my! What a week! And what a terrific analogy! Excellent insight!
Kaye Swain
PS – Mega congrats to your son and Happy Birthday to your husband
Denise
Hi G-J–I love that you reassigned household chores. How did you decide who gets what?
And, I love your idea about the lamp–the barometer of smoothness. I wonder if we have an internal lamp–an intuition, a feeling–when all is well and when all isn’t?
Congrats to your son and your husband on their milestones. I hope they both find many blessings during their next year.
Sharon
Transitions can be unsettling especially the difficult and unexpected ones. Like you said, in caregiving you don’t know when the transisitions are going to hit; but somehow you are supposed to be prepared for it.