“Chakala Chakala Chakala”
These are my mother’s words today. Yesterday and today the words that make sense are lost – I hope tomorrow they’re found. She’s worried and scared and cries over not being able to communicate with me.
This part of dementia will take some time for us both to make all the right adjustments to, but right now it’s just very sad. I decided today to just let the tears come in hopes that they won’t need to come eventually…
I went downtown today for a walk. This weekend our Ice Festival takes place. Outside of each store is a different ice sculpture and in the park is a large chair made of ice with a design on the back.
During my first “We Break…” on Caregiving.com I remember making a stop at a duck pond to breathe and just take a moment for me. (: Never before in caregiving (in seven years) had I been given permission and a challenge with encouragement to take time for me. I love the challenges of our “We Breaks”. Today, remembering those challenges and looking forward to “We Break for Winter”, I stopped and watched the man sculpt the chair – with a chain saw. It was amazing.
I’m so grateful for the reminders I’m given here at Caregiving.com. In caregiving, it’s very easy to forget the smiles we encounter, the parts of the day that can make the day shine.
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. 
G-J
Bette, I’m sorry your mother is having a hard time finding the words. Hopefully soon, what’s lost will be found.
Loved the pictures of the ice sculptures. Glad you were able to take a little break.
roaringmouse
Bette,
I think you mom must have been a bright lively person that was very active and people loved to be around. I like to dabble in lingo and I peeked into Wikipedia at Chakala and later Chakalaka. The former is a city in Mumbai, India and the latter is a dish from outside Johannesburg. Did your mom travel?
Forgive me please…but one thing I learned to do with Greg is when there’s something sad or hard to see the positive on…I try to look at it from an entirely different angle to make a positive of it. Maybe with the new words…there can be new experiences.
Next time will you bring me to see the ice sculptures? I love that kind of stuff!
Thanks for teaching me!
The Roaring Mouse
tiredamy2007
Betty,
I can completely understand the heartache when our loved ones go down hill further. My mom and dad for some reason right now are having a decline in memory and dementia. They are much more clingy and also more angery. I think it is that they dont like not having control to remember so they want to feel better. I know it is very hard to not to take it a personally. I have been able to think “yes u r upset but is it at me”, and most of the time it isnt even though we get the brunt of it.
Hang in there. Hugs and prayer going your way.
Amy