After In-Patient Stay – A Caregiver’s Task List

September 16, 2026.Reading time 5 minutes.

We’ve been home a week. And yes, I’m so thankful (so so thankful) hubby was well enough to be discharged. And yes, I much prefer sleeping in my bed to sleeping in a hospital ICU recliner. And yes, the commute, parking fees, and unlimited snacking have taken a toll on my wallet and waistline. But […]

I Didn’t Want My Kids to See Their Dad in the ICU. They Changed My Mind.

September 6, 2026.Reading time 5 minutes.

It’s weird being a mom. We’re supposed to know all the things, but these two hooligans teach me something new every day. Sometimes it’s about trombones and spittoons or ballet positions, sometimes it’s about calculus or Texas history, and some days it’s about how they need me to parent them. This last hospitalization was scary […]

Can A New Normal After Illness Still Be A Good Life?

August 31, 2026.Reading time 4 minutes.

If I let myself, I could spiral to places no one should ever have to go. The truth is, being a caregiver is just too unpredictable for my tiny lizard brain. And if I’m not actively managing my intrusive thoughts with ‘healthy’ coping mechanisms – therapy, writing, sharing with people who love me/us, and accepting […]

Caregiver Emotional Labor: Work Nobody Sees

August 29, 2026.Reading time 5 minutes.

Being a caregiver isn’t all glitz and glamor, y’all. Sometimes, it’s hard work! And yes – the more obvious “work” is the physical labor associated with taking care of another human. Something less obvious is the emotional labor we’re dealing with too. Who would have thought that thinking so hard could be so traumatic. So, […]

How to Cope with Caregiver Grief: A Q&A with Bishop John Abdalah

July 26, 2019.Reading time 14 minutes.

Grief is a normal, healthy response to any loss or perceived change. Sometimes, when there are multiple losses, untimely losses (in the case of younger people), losses that involve loss of income or involve children, grief can be complicated. As caregivers, we mourn the losses of our loved one as they lose various physical functions, […]

Do You Fear the Unknown? Yeah – me too.

July 16, 2019.Reading time 10 minutes.

I’ve had the privilege of knowing others in similar situations – caregiving for a loved one who is dealing with a life-long and progressive condition. Something we all share is a level of anxiety that is uncommon in the general public and usually results from a shared fear of the unknown. But what are the […]

Juggle. Hustle. Repeat.

Tag: depression