Caregiving Advice

  Last month, when we told her just turned 10-year-old daughter with special needs that I had breast cancer, she cried. A lot. Used a whole box of tissues. Asked the most heartbreaking questions. Clung to her dad. But then she jumped up off the couch, grabbed my heated neck wrap off the shelf, and proceeded to the kitchen, where she warmed it up for me. (Independently! A big deal for her!) My sweet daughter doing my makeup after my sisters shaved my head. When she came back, she presented it to me with these words: “I want to help you feel better, Mom. I want to be your caregiver.” My heart went from shattered to bursting. What a gift at that moment, in the midst of a gut-wrenching conversation I wish no other parent, to see her take a brave step from her deep sadness to do something caring for me. I’ll treasure that moment always. Mom, I want to be your caregiver. – Michelle’s daughter Was I terrified for the three weeks preceding that conversation? Convinced the news of my cancer...

One thing can be said with absolute certainty: this year has put us all through the wringer. From the lowest of lows to the (hopefully in there somewhere) happiest of happy moments, 2020 has been moody. And this collection of playlists is here for every mood. Feeling angry at the world? Feeling like you’re on cloud nine? Feeling like you just want to snuggle up and forget your worries? We’ve got a playlist for that. So let’s start our year-in-review of playlists with the way this year started. It’s New Year's Day, you’ve welcomed in the new decade, and you’re feeling great. On top of the world. Here are our favorite songs to listen to when we’re in a good mood. That dance-down-the-street, “life is good” types of songs: Suddenly, the news is on constantly, there’s no toilet paper, and the world shuts down. Everyone is in a bad mood. When angst and germs fill the air, bad mood songs make their comeback. Check out our angsty, loud, angry playlist for that down-in-the-dumps kind of day...

Last summer, we kicked off our very first “ABCs of Caregiving” campaign on social media. It was so popular we’ve brought it back and we love hearing all of your feedback and the ways each letter and lesson resonate with you. Here, we’ve compiled the caregiving lessons from letters A through F of our social media campaign, the #abcsofcaregiving—in case you missed them, or to share them with someone who’d be encouraged by them. A is for Adaptive Being a caregiver means that your job is constantly changing, and to thrive, you’ll be constantly changing your approach as well! From year-to-year changes…like going on hospice, month-to-month changes…like losing the ability to walk or even stand on her own, to hourly changes…like sun-downing, my grandmother’s abilities, moods, needs, and desires are constantly shifting. And if I’m not adapting, I’m not going to be able to keep up and provide her with the best care possible. The constant adaptations are what make caregiving so exhausting, bu...

  Last summer, we kicked off our very first ABCs of Caregiving campaign on social media. It was so popular we brought it back for another season, and we love hearing the ways each letter and lesson resonate with you. Here, we’ve compiled the caregiving lessons from letters G through M. Credit for these reflections goes to Eliza Brown (G, I, J, K, M) and Latia Johnson (H and L) . G is for Grief Something that I’ve struggled a lot with over the years has been anticipatory grief. Some days it hits me like a ton of bricks. Mostly at nighttime.  Taking care of my grandmother over the span of so many different stages of care has allowed me to be acutely aware of her decline. And while this is good for her care, it’s also incredibly difficult to handle emotionally. And some days it’s impossible to ignore the fact that she won’t be here forever, and that one day I will have to relearn life without her. I think anticipatory grief is incredibly natural for caregivers because we have it ...

Last month, when we told us just turned 10-year-old daughter with special needs that I had breast cancer, she cried. A lot. Used a whole box of tissues. Asked the most heartbreaking questions. Clung to her dad. But then she jumped up off the couch, grabbed my heated neck wrap off the shelf, and proceeded to the kitchen, where she warmed it up for me. (Independently! A big deal for her!) My sweet daughter doing my makeup after my sisters shaved my head. When she came back, she presented it to me with these words: “I want to help you feel better, Mom. I want to be your caregiver.” My heart went from shattered to bursting. What a gift at that moment, in the midst of a gut-wrenching conversation I wish no other parent, to see her take a brave step from her deep sadness to do something caring for me. I’ll treasure that moment always. Mom, I want to be your caregiver. – Michelle’s daughter Was I terrified for the three weeks preceding that conversation? Convinced the news of my cancer would ...