An update– Mom. Recovery. Dormancy. Mom had her aneurysm, the first wallop to her head that precipitated all the others issues that have happened in the years since, in 2005. That took place the day before her 65th birthday. In 2011, when friends and I took her to a fancy dinner for her 71st birthday… Continue reading Update, and Why this site is mostly quiet.
Tag: confidence
Change in Direction for Donna’s Lessons
Since early July, Donna and I have continued to live our lives together while I have maintained regular contributions to DL here. I intend to draw this down, but nowhere near to a close. Why? Because my heart is making me do it.
The post it has taken five tries to write
I began writing a few different pieces for Donnas Lessons in recent days, but part way through I have been becoming exhausted. I simply cannot recount long stretches of the last few years without having the stress, fear, anxiety and ‘fight or flight’ responses from starting to take over my thoughts and feelings before I… Continue reading The post it has taken five tries to write
Summer Epilogue
Well! Mom returned from a respite away on Tuesday, a few days back. The weather was uncooperative with the possibility of getting away– I truly wanted to get into the woods, but it was not to be– yet I did manage to feel very much refreshed. Even being in my home alone will give me… Continue reading Summer Epilogue
Donna and Travel, take one.
Donna and I are nearing four years of co-habitation, but aside from camping trips we have not been able to travel since Donna needed regular help and moved in with me. This last year I have made strides in self-confidence and ability to ‘deal’ with the various challenges of caregiving with Donna– and as such… Continue reading Donna and Travel, take one.
Fleeing the Flames, chasing Donna’s Dreams
I have done more than inherit Mom’s preferences, she raised me with her habits. As a career teacher, she loved the outdoors of BC and elsewhere to a degree that getting into the woods was probably the single greatest benefit of being a teacher who had her summers off. I grew up knowing that at… Continue reading Fleeing the Flames, chasing Donna’s Dreams
Heatwaves, Hamburgers and Handydarts
When it is as hot as it is in Vancouver (well, Burnaby) Canada now, there is little chance in thinking deeply on any other subject. I have complained many times about the Handydart system in BC for elders and incapacitated people of all ages. But, I must say, the existence of this service has made… Continue reading Heatwaves, Hamburgers and Handydarts
How a pair of shoes almost cost Mom her home
[From Patreon, written July 6, 2018] Most often when I sit down to write things about life helping Mom, unless I’m venting some stress for that day, I’m writing up and accentuating the positives. But I want to tell a cautionary tale to other caregivers and, hopefully, the larger society for those who would help… Continue reading How a pair of shoes almost cost Mom her home
Heat and beating it
There are only a couple of weeks a year that exist in Vancouver hot enough to be dangerous. The danger, of course, escalates with your age. So how do we have lives together that are also safe? Fortunately, we have lakes.
The Cost of Caring: 10 Ways to Prevent Compassion Fatigue
Compassion fatigue can be a serious occupational hazard for those in any kind of helping profession, with a majority of those in the field reporting experiencing at least some degree of it in their lives. This is no surprise, as it is typically those with the most empathy who are the most at risk. Compassion… Continue reading The Cost of Caring: 10 Ways to Prevent Compassion Fatigue