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Managing The Stress ~ Making The Decisions ~ Discovering The Meaning |
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Caregiving |
Solutions To Your Caregiving Situations Throughout Your Caregiving Years |
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Channeling the changes How I've changed (Editor's Note: Recently, a member of one of our online support groups, posted a message of support for another member, who is caring for her terminally ill mother. Here's her message, which I thought you all would enjoy.) I do believe with all my heart that we as caregivers really are blessed with new insights and perspective, deeper understanding, compassion, patience (learned as we go, but learned, and a true appreciation for and enjoyment of the simplest things in life that we might otherwise not have been "slowed down" enough to acquire had these human tragedies not touched our lives. These things enhance the essence of our being. And in those few quiet moments when we can reflect (and this group, Caregiving.com online support group, helps us to take the time for that), the inner peace that comes from these blessings is like a warm blanket. When my children were growing up and I had to work so hard just to get us by, I remember being told by them in a family conference one evening, "It seems you are never home unless you are too sick to be somewhere else." That broke my heart. But it's truly what life in "Corporate America" can do to a family. Sad thing is, these companies will take it "all" from employees at any level. I wasn't a "top" executive, just a single parent trying to survive and most of the time holding more than one job. Back then, I remember watching the men leave for ballgames for their children at the same time hurting so badly because I was told I couldn't leave for an extra hour to be at the hospital when my grandmother (who raised me) came out of surgery. And WE now have TIME, the kind of time my grandparents had for me. My own children tell me often, "No other gift could compare to this...thanks, Mom." When I cook dinner and call them to share here with us or pick it up and take it home, or because I never say "No" to having the babies. And I say, "You're right, but the gift is TO me, not from me, these grandkids make Richard smile like nothing else can, and WE are the grateful ones." So, I too feel the benefits of walking this path....Ahhhh, the blessings that spring forth to polish these old pieces of coal! I know we will continue to find gratitude and peace and smiles every day, in something that our loved one does that touches our heart, or just in the feelings of worth at the end of the day that spring from being able to give of ourselves in the ways that mean the most. --S.V. Lake Wylie, S.C. |
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