Caregiving Monday Musings

Caregiving is both a loving and a draining experience.

Love can wax and wane and the caregiving experience feels different depending on your phase.

Being thoughtfully pensive is different than being mired in a recurring mental spiral.

Fairness has varying definitions depending on your perspective; learn to raise or lower your expectations depending on your mental outlook of the day. Life is not always fair...

Peers and friends who “get it” are priceless.  It is lonely and isolating to walk this path alone, so please don’t!

As much as possible, give patient, educated responses when coping with the muddle of bureaucracy.  You’ll sleep better when you're less agitated.

Find your “anchor” (a friend, your faith, your journal, your dearest pet…) or a quiet place and give yourself permission to hold still when needed.  Your work will wait.

Finally, know the people that care for YOU in your life and lean on them when necessary. They fervently want to help you.

You matter so much to those that depend on you.  Do you really need to wonder why you’re tired? 

Please be kind to yourself.  You do a huge job, and you’re not going to be perfect, but you are going to do your best.  

You always do.

Caregivers, you are a gift to those you support.

Blessings to you,

Linda Kreter & the VeteranCaregiver Team