Dear Caregivers, What is that one thing that keeps you going with everything you do as a caregiver?
Be it caregiving to your family, child, seniors, family or friends... there's always something that keeps us moving forward. What is it that lets you nurture the people who depend on you, even in your hard times?
For me, the love they reflect back to me is what makes me keep going.
Reminder: In the process of caregiving, don't forget to take care of yourself. You're equally important 💛
@pandanfe
I like this prompt so much. I wondered the same question when I was caring for my parents as they aged. When I was caring for our children, it just seemed like constant good energy busyness. With parents, there were so many medical appointments, gradual expected deterioration, and much frustration.
What kept me going at the time was I joined a couple of websites that had to do with aging, and they had good discussions and tips, and also, communities were created where we helped each other out with encouragement.
I do believe the same could be created here if people had the desire.
I do believe that the isolation of caregiving is really the killer, and that as soon as we can reach out and affirm that what we are going through is normal, though it may not feel normal to us individually, then it’s easier to find meaning through the drudgery aspects of what we are doing.
I hope others respond, and also, that you are able to find this community of caregivers here on 7 cups, to help sustain you.
@PatienceImpatiens
Thank you for sharing your personal experience and support. It gave me the clear distinction between caring for children and caring for aging. There's something about the unpredictable decline and medical responsibility that feels heavier even though the love is same.
I totally agree with you about the isolation part. It feels better to be heard and understood with a good support system during the phrase as it makes huge difference for the caregivers. I'm glad you had that from couple of websites. And at the same time, I hope the same could be created here as you mentioned. Even though some support system already exists, I'm sure if there is different sub community for that, people would be more willing to help and be helped while supporting each other 💛
Noting down anything positive anyone says or anything good that happens which makes you remember the good times along the way. Email it to yourself ... schedule it for a random future date in the month or year.
That’s a good idea. Reading on positive things anyone says or remembering the good times along the way is a really good way to keep the process lighthearted.
@pandanfe
Taking care of myself make me caregiver?
Heheheh yes… usually we tend to give a lot of cares to others that we forgot ourselves in the process. So it’s really important that we be our own caregiver as well 💛
