As we look to a brand new year, it brings to mind new beginnings.
A fresh start. Maybe do things differently this year.
Here are some resolutions I’ve made to make 2017 better than 2016 in my role as caregiver for my ninety-three-year-old mother:
- Give more grace. I need to remind myself that she’s 93, not 73. She needs more patience from me as her faculties diminish.
- Renew my sense of humor. Help my mother see the irony and (sometimes) humor as she ages. And ages. And ages.
- Enjoy this time. It will soon be gone (I mean, she can’t live forever, right???) and I will miss her like crazy. She’s my second most fervent cheerleader. I’ll miss that.
- Pray for her more often. Especially when she’s gotten on my last nerve.
What things do you wish for in the new year as you go through this caregiving season?
Christian Author, Jane S. Daly
After a successful career in banking, Jane dipped her toes into writing after a life-changing event – the death of her 30-year-old son. Her book, Because of Grace, has given hope to many mothers who have experienced the same shattering grief. The Caregiving Season was born from the years spent caring for her elderly mother. This original Caregiving Blog was published during her caregiving years.
Now with seven novels published, Jane is addicted to coffee, purple pens, and her husband, not necessarily in that order. A self-proclaimed introvert, she enjoys the solitude of riding shotgun in Rigsby, her 37-foot motor home. But when they pull into a new campground, her favorite thing is to make new friends and find hangouts featuring local musicians. Her fantasy involves writing lyrics for country music songs and hearing them played on the radio. In the meantime, she’ll stick to writing novels. And seeing as much of the country as possible.