Motivational Monday: Strive for Change

"The Caregiver's Journey" Book Review

It may seem out of place for me to review a book about being a caregiver for an elderly loved one. However, as the author, Todd F. Cope, noted, "Sixty five million Americans (mostly mothers) are currently a caregiver for a loved one. With the Baby Boom generation reaching retirement age, that number will only increase. Most adults who are not caregivers either know one, or anticipate becoming one in the near future." Some of you already may be facing this responsibility. Some of you may not be there yet, but the best time to prepare is now.

The Caregiver's Journey is an introductory book into the world of caregiving for loved ones (not professionals) who need easily understood and accessible advice on how to give proper care. It outlines the journey you will have to take, from recognizing care is needed to finding the right help to saying goodbye. It covers common problems and emotions you may face, and it begins each chapter with a real example to give you an idea of an issue or to help you relate with others who have been in similar situations to yours and your loved one's.

Smiles
*It is very simple and practical to help those who have no professional background in caregiving and need general tools on how to start and navigate the journey and where to find more resources specific to your situation.
*The sections and chapters are organized very well to help you find answers about specific topics relevant to where you are in the caregiving journey.
*The book is a short, quick read, perfect for your busy lifestyle.

Frowns
*More of an FYI  than a frown: Because the approach is more general in nature, it is not helpful for those looking for more detailed information on care for certain conditions, what to look for in a care facility, or what questions to ask when hiring help. It is a simple overview of issues that come with being a caregiver and how to handle them.

I recommend this book for anyone who is new to caregiving and is feeling lost or overwhelmed, anyone who may become a caregiver in the near future, or anyone you know who is in those positions and may benefit from guidance. In fact, I think I'm going to pass along my copy to my uncle, who cares for my grandma.

Motivational Monday: Inner Peace

Oops! Caden Found His Birthday Present

Monday morning I asked Caden to look for something of mine he had lost, and he accidentally stumbled upon his birthday present in our closet. This kid, along with his brother, hides in our closet all the time, but always on my side. The present was on his dad's side behind the hamper and was more visible that day, I guess. Caden usually isn't a very observant person, just like me.

"I see a Cars scooter," he said.

"Deny, deny, deny!" my husband suggested.

"No, I'm not going to lie to him," I replied. I wanted to give it to him early anyway so he could use it more during the summer. He was very happy and couldn't wait to use it. That evening I took him out for a ride.

Gabe wanted to ride the plasma car, so I put him in Caden's old helmet. I didn't think he would need the other protective gear, but he tripped walking to the car and scraped his knee.

Pointing out his "bb-bb" (boo boo)

Caden did really well balancing on the two-wheeled scooter. I credit it to his experience with the balance bike. However, he needs to work on steering, because that's when he falls down.

After a while, Gabe decided it was easier to scoot without steering.

We went out again yesterday to show Caden's friend. I wore Gabe in the carrier, though. Tonight, we went out once more. This time, I put Gabe in full protective gear. He was very excited.

However, after a few feet, he started pulling the car and then completely abandoned it altogether.

I got out the balance bike for him to try, but even with the lowest adjustments, he is still too short to ride it. So he walked instead, then sat on the sidewalk and scooted along on his bottom! Finally, he asked me to pick him up. I guess we have yet to find the right ride-along toy for him, but Caden is enjoying his scooter very much.

Motivational Monday: Live to Be Authentic, Not to Please Others

Goodbye, Play Kitchen

Almost four years ago, I wrote this post about finding a Step 2 play kitchen in excellent condition at the thrift store for only $12.99.

Caden loved it. Soon I moved it out of his room and next to our kitchen so he could play with it while I cooked (the kitchen was gated off). I expected to keep it for a long, long time. But it eventually stopped getting played with. By the time Caden was 3, he wasn't interested anymore. He loved playing with the food he got that year for his birthday, however.

I was determined to keep the kitchen because we had a new baby and I still couldn't get over the price I paid for it. Replacing it in the future would most likely be very costly. And whenever we had other children over, they enjoyed playing with it.

Gabe ended up not really interested in it either. He preffered dumping out the food to use the bucket as a step stool and sucking on the food. I got tired of cleaning it up several times a day, so I got rid of the felt food first. I put away the wooden food and dishes a couple weeks ago to keep for periodic use. (The boys like to play with the dishes in water.)

Then I made Caden take down all the things he had stashed on top of the kitchen and cleaned it to get it ready for selling. I taped up the hole so the kids couldn't stuff toys into it. It took me half an hour of shaking the kitchen back and forth and trying to stick my hand inside in order to get everything out! I even found the original utensils I had completely forgotten about.

I changed my mind about selling it at first, until one day I noticed the bucket inside the washer with a load of laundry! Somehow I missed Gabe putting it in there. I put the bucket away too, making the kitchen completely useless to my boys. As much as I still wanted to keep it, I decided it had to go. I'm really trying to weed out stuff we don't use, and unfortunately it fit the bill.

I sold it, including all the food and dishes, yesterday. I was kind of sad, but I know I'll get over it. Generally speaking, I don't let myself get attached to material things anymore for this very reason. So, goodbye, play kitchen. You served us well. May your new owner enjoy you longer than my boys did.

Motivational Monday: Trust Yourself