I have vowed to make my Mom's last days/years happy ones.

I have vowed to do everything I can to make her as happy as she made me all my childhood.

I've worked hard on her view from her recliner. Her view started out as a panoramic view of a red Corolla.

Now, she has a view with flowers, and birds and squirrels eating, my car gets moved from the carport every morning and goes back under the carport every night.

My Mother is worth a lot more than the car is. Heck, I never had a carport till 2002 anyway! And whats a little bird poop on my car. I'm 51 and had that most of my life. I can buy another car later, I can't buy another Mom.

Nowdays when we open the front door, she smiles all day long.

I, her caregiver, has vowed to get her outside as much as I can. We have a swing hanging out of a huge cedar tree out front, and a huge covered porch out back.

Days she can't get out because of pollen flying, we ride around and she sees all the flowers blooming. Soon, pollen time will be over here. She has a handi cap ramp I built, so it makes it easy to go out front now.

I've vowed to make her last days/years or whatever she has happy ones. I feel I'm succeeding.

In the daytime, I hear her talk to the dogs, telling one dog how many birds are eating out front or how many squirrels she's watching, and how pretty they are.

Yea, Mom is happy, and that has been my goal from day one.

It doesn't stop here. I have no idea whats next, but I'm sure I'll come up with something!

Yeah you right! Don't sweat the small stuff and make a celebration any chance you get! Drink up the good and leave the unimportant and bad stuff by the road.

BUT this isn't ALL about Mom - it's about you, too. Remember to take EXTRA good care of YOU so that you can achieve your goals each day. We have good days and bad, too, so when you have days when you are not the bestest daughter/caregiver in the whole wide world, allow yourself to settle for a little less without beating yourself up. A little selfishness now and again is a good thing, if only to remind us of the contrasting emotions.

You GO girl!

That's the true spirit of "CAREgiving"!

quote:

I can buy another car later, I can't buy another Mom.

Man now did you say a mouthful there.
I hope like heck EVERYONE reads that line that comes through these hallowed halls and reflects on that for a moment.....

Way to go... I hope I can live up to those pledges.