are you a caregiver?

[bluebird]

Is anyone else a caregiver? It was pointed out to me that I have been a caregiver for a special needs child for close to 24 years. First ds now dd. It is wearing on me. How do you handle it? What do you do for yourself?

[bar_bar]

(((( Connie)))) be thankful you have the privelege to be the caretaker. It can be do his wear and tear on one, but you take it one step at a time.. You try to find some tiem for yourself althou it not easy to do at times.
if you can get someone to help you, you do.
Often us caretakers it us that does it..

Pray alot.. and you talk to those that listens.
again be thankful you have them in your life
and accept it as part of your misson to care for them..

It because a part of you and what you do each day until you are no longer a caretaker, then it hard to not be one.
I'm not muct on giving advice right now..
so I hope someone else come along to do it.
but know I'm here to listen and lean on, and to pray with you..
Hugs.

[Sueanne]

You have to be born a caregiver to be able to be one. It is not an easy job but we do it well when it is family.

I was a caregiver to my Mom until she died a couple of years ago. She trusted my decisions which made it easier.

I have always been a care giver to my ds through all his past health problems. Especially dealing with doctors and hospitals like You.

It does get easier as they grow older. Let them develop friendships so they will be less dependent on you. They will have to be able to survive in case anything happens to us.

Most important take care of your health too.
_____
Sueanne

[bluebird]

I haven't realized how drained I am taking care of my mother while growing up, then my oldest son, then my dh, my daughter. I need to be careful and take care of myself too.

[RobertaD]

You know when I first read the title I was thinking of adult child taking care of a parent not a parent taking care of a special needs child.

My youngest has had medical issues that I've been dealing with for the past 6 years and in the past year she has been diagnoised with Tourettes Syndrum. We've gone from 4-10 appointments a month to 2-3 over the years which I've been very grateful to be self-employeed with Avon as I know I would have been fired do to attendance years ago.

I also have my MIL 1-3 times a week when DH & FIL have meetings so they eat with us and the girls and I watch MIL until they get home. It is sad for the kids as they don't really have "grandparents" in them. DD2 has never spent time at their house without me, spending the night is not an option like at her other Grandma's house. I think it is harder for DD1 as she remembers getting to spend the night when she was 3-4 she even spent with weekend with them once.

I know the hardest thing for me is taking mental health time let alone getting time to work out every day.

Roberta

[CalGalInFla]

Hi all -

I have my parents (dad soon to be 85 and mom 82) here with us. Its the most rewarding and frustrating thing I have ever done. I FALL into bed the moment I put Mom to bed - between 8-9pm. Tuesday I was in bed at 7:50pm.

If you only get 15 mins a day to yourself - take them. Take a walk, take a bath, go to bed early with a book. Try not to drink too much wine!

All you can do is pray and be thankful you have the task at all. It's better than the alternative.....

Good luck. Keeping you and all of us in prayer.

J~