Naturally, I get discouraged and angry at times. Sometimes I speak strongly to my mother simply to get her to follow instructions. I would be embarrassed if anybody heard me talking to her like that, but it gets the job done faster.
Still, the worst is when I am angry at myself for losing my cool. Then I have to use some of the sayings that I've come up with. Here are a couple of my favorites.
- It doesn't have to be perfect.
- I don't have to be perfect.
Another thing I do is follow some groups on Facebook that are about caregiving and memory loss. That helps me to put things in perspective--other people are going through the same thing or much worse. I don't belong to any in-person support groups, but I have a very supportive brother that I can share things with.
And lastly, I have help. Twice a week, a helper comes from an agency to take Mom out for a few hours, walking and having lunch. On the weekend, a family friend takes Mom to church, followed again by a walk and some lunch. That gives me a break and saves my sanity.
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