How I Find Meaning In Caregiving
How to Find Meaning in Caregiving
Caregiving is not an either or experience.
There are terrific highs and soul stirring lows.
But try asking yourself...What has Caregiving made me better at?
While you ask yourself that, here are a few reasons why I learned to love being one...
CONNECTION - Its easy to think you're alone, but investing in a community like Mom Of My Mom allowed me to feel heard. Making friends with other Caregivers helped me to identify as one they also aided in giving me the validation I needed through shared experiences. Meeting new people will help you discover new interest and new sides of yourself you didn't know existed.
RELATIONSHIPS - Im grateful for the relationship I experienced with my mother during the years caring for her. Though many were challenging, I was able to prove my devotion to her, which Im proud to have done. I was able to learn her and understand her better while hearing stories about her life that I never would have heard otherwise Caregiving also gave me a better understanding of the friendships and types of people I should cherish. I was more easily able to identify lifelong friendships, those who had my back and those who were only there for the good times. Caregiving is repellant for fake people, so consider it a blessing when they fall to the wayside.
GROWTH - Take pride in how much I learned throughout this journey. The insights allowed me to discover strengths. Gain new understanding of life, what is truly important and a reverence for how short of a time we have on this planet. I was forced to find positives in everyday which reprogrammed my thinking from victimhood to empowerment.
Many Caregivers find that starting a support groups helps them make meaning of Caregiving, or organizing a Walk or Self Care retreat, other are just in community with other Caregivers or decide to take up advocacy for the cause. We need it all, and I hope this community encourages you to take that step forward.
I’m currently caring for my 15yr old son that has a terminal disease. We’re currently back in the hospital 2 days after being released for covid. I find that no matter how much I try to explain to people everyday struggle, they will never truly understand. Thank you for being an outlet for me to say I DONT WANT TO DO THIS! and not being judged bc you get it. Thank you for seeing me!
I’m currently caring for my 15yr old son that has a terminal disease. We’re currently back in the hospital 2 days after being released for covid. I find that no matter how much I try to explain to people everyday struggle, they will never truly understand. Thank you for being an outlet for me to say I DONT WANT TO DO THIS! and not being judged bc you get it. Thank you for seeing me!
I really love your postings for caring for ur mother. Keep doing what you do.
Thank you for sharing. In dealing with some grief because I had to place my mom in a nursing home
I really did my best for 5 years without any family support.
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