My first few years of caregiver with my Dad were the same. I was mainly emotional support and attending doctor appointments with him and my stepmother. I distinctly remember often questioning whether I actually‘qualified’ to be called acaregiver during that time.
Thank you so much for sharing this, Sydney. That kind of support is just invaluable. those doctors appointments can be so stressful and having a calming, steady presence, like yours, makes a difference. I wonder if you remember when you decided that you really did enough to be called a caregiver?
It wasn’t until his final couple of years of life, as he got sicker, when my stepmom was constantly calling me. Reporting on every situation every behavior , every thing he did. At times I had to leave work or drop everything I was doing and drive to their house to ‘mediate’ and calm folks down. I was more entrenched the last couple of years. With my mom, present day, I am all she has. I am most assuredly a caretaker from day one as there is no one else.
So much for you, Sydney. Being on call and then being ready to manage a crisis is a lot. It's also so much on you when you're the only one. Thanks for all you do and for all you did.
My first few years of caregiver with my Dad were the same. I was mainly emotional support and attending doctor appointments with him and my stepmother. I distinctly remember often questioning whether I actually‘qualified’ to be called acaregiver during that time.
Thank you so much for sharing this, Sydney. That kind of support is just invaluable. those doctors appointments can be so stressful and having a calming, steady presence, like yours, makes a difference. I wonder if you remember when you decided that you really did enough to be called a caregiver?
It wasn’t until his final couple of years of life, as he got sicker, when my stepmom was constantly calling me. Reporting on every situation every behavior , every thing he did. At times I had to leave work or drop everything I was doing and drive to their house to ‘mediate’ and calm folks down. I was more entrenched the last couple of years. With my mom, present day, I am all she has. I am most assuredly a caretaker from day one as there is no one else.
So much for you, Sydney. Being on call and then being ready to manage a crisis is a lot. It's also so much on you when you're the only one. Thanks for all you do and for all you did.