Tag Archives: family

Finding Balance and Counting Blessings

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Although tiring and often challenging, most days of caregiving are filled with rewards and blessings. There are times, however, when the stress and routine of the job seem to win.

Can you relate? The most menial tasks have suddenly become overwhelming. It has been a major struggle to care for yourself let alone others. Grumbling and complaining have taken your music and robbed you of your joy.

The concerns you are dealing with may be serious with no clear answers in sight. Faithful helpers have suddenly dropped out of circulation and you are left alone.

Adding to the stress, your long-awaited one-day outing has just been canceled due to an unexpected storm in the forecast.

Perhaps you are trying to make better menu choices for yourself, family and all in your care. However, today you are starving and there is no relief in sight! 

Now what? How do you pull out of such a deep pit and back into circulation? How do we escape?  

When I have times like that, all my helpers could show up at one time and I’d still be in the pit. I could eat the refrigerator and all its contents and still be starving. I know food is not the answer to my dilemma.

Recently I have found the Serenity Prayer to be a welcome reminder – I am not alone.

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change.  Are there things in my life right now I need to accept, deal with, and move on? The Lord will give the strength and peace I need if I ask.

… courage to change the things I can. What actions could I take to make my work run smoother? Do I need to accept help from others? Are there changes in the way I do things that would help? Could I use my time more wisely?

… wisdom to know the difference. God in heaven knows what is best for me. If I am to go through trials, He is there to comfort and to guide. If He desires change in my life, He will provide it as I yield to His will.

 This thought from Colossians helps put my day in perspective:  “Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily (from the soul), as [something done] for the Lord and not for men.”

As you serve others, I pray for you days of health, sunshine, and love.

Hugs,

Be sure to sign up for the newsletter and do let me know how things are in your world today. I care.

Tips on How to Survive Winters Stress

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Tips on How to Survive Winters StressWeeks of winter can leave us frozen in our tracks! Caring for self and family can become drudgery instead of blessing. Many of us want to snuggle up in a corner and sleep until spring arrives!

Can you relate? It seems impossible to get menial tasks done when focused on weather. Stress builds as we consider the cost of fuel, food, and necessities. Workers have difficulty getting to and from jobs; it’s challenging to meet the immediate needs of a household.

For you who are caregivers, you may feel more hemmed in than ever before. It’s hard to keep things going when we get depressed. What could be time for each of us to catch up while snowed in may have turned into long, unproductive days and weeks of wishful thinking and procrastination.

Well, if in summer we say, “when given lemons, make lemonade,” then what shall we say when given ice and snow? Make ice cream? Yes! We can do this!

The solution is found in this quote from Anthony J.D’Angelo, “Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine.”

So, dear friend, shake off those feelings, pull up your bootstraps, and smile as we get at the tasks at hand. We can do this!

Here are the steps I took to warm things up.

#1. Comb my hair and put on some makeup to show off my pretty smile!

#2. Pick up and put away all the newspapers, mail, and jackets strewn around the place.

#3. Fill the crock pot with stew, beans, or a roast. That aroma will liven the entire household.

#4. Choose one thing I need to work on today and have it ready to do.

#5. Begin now to plan for a sunshiny day again tomorrow—regardless of what the weather may bring.

#6. As always, thank my Heavenly Father for each breath I take, for those I love and care for, and for His perfect plan.

Let me hear how you are surviving the wiles of winter.

With hugs and prayers,

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5 Problem Solving Helps When Caring for Others

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Anna is primary caregiver for her mother and stretched to the max keeping up with work, family, and life. She is somewhat relieved that her ailing mother is now in a good extended care facility; and they keep her informed of any changes in her mother’s physical condition or her care. Or, so she thought.

On a recent visit, she found her mother’s condition had worsened, and no one had prepared Anna for drastic changes in her care. Her initial reaction was to feel angry, hurt, and helpless. Often she was made to feel like an intruder as she began to question the changes.

As parents, friends, relatives or primary caregivers, we each will come face-to-face with sudden emergencies and need to be prepared to deal properly with them. Here are some helpful tips to avoid or at least ease the tension of these situations. We’ll look at what Anna learned from personal experience and from a gentle nurse who sensed her frustrations and told her, “you wait right here. I will not let you leave until I get the answers for you concerning your mother’s care”. It was clear, this nurse loved what she was doing; she wanted to help people and encourage co-workers.

1. You are often the patient’s advocate whether you asked for the position or not. They may not be able to express their needs. The same inadequate care or neglect may be happening to other patients; those in charge need to hear from you. Do not hesitate to go directly to the administrator, physician, or others in charge for clarification and direction.
2. When someone in your care enters a new facility, document everything you can. Post names of employees who give especially reliable care and those you have cause to question. When things are not as they should be in the facility or with the patient, make a note of it and who is working at the time.
3. Take time to assess the current situation. Ask yourself, is this really of prime importance to her overall care and well-being? Am I over-reacting? Stop. Take time to honestly evaluate your position. You do not want to complicate the problem by acting in haste.
4. Proceed kindly with determination to find solutions. Resolve to be kind to everyone involved. You may need to stop more than once to breathe deeply, relax, and continue in a better frame of mind.
5. Strive to be an encourager, even in difficult times. Many of the employees are doing the best they can. As they say, “don’t let one bad apple spoil the whole bunch.”
6. Remember why you are there as well. Are you caring for your loved one from a loving heart, out of duty, or some other reason?

It can prove extremely difficult from time to time to care for others. However, if we do it because we love them, the task becomes much easier. As we grow into better caregivers, the patients feel genuinely loved,  accepted and cared for.

As I read over these helps, I see they can apply to all areas of our lives; children in schools, on the job, at work or play. People of all ages and health need the same thing—love, acceptance, and hope for a good day. You can be the instrument today to help another.

Praying you will feel that love and acceptance and an extra surge of energy and hope as you care for others along your path.

Hugs,

Let me hear from you soon. Be sure you are signed up for my newsletter (pretty box in the top right hand corner) as I have exciting, encouraging things to share in the weeks to come.  Thanks.