I Never Experienced Parenthood Until I Became My Mother's Caretaker

"Who's Your Mama?" By the time I was 20, I was sure having children wasn't for me. It was a conscious decision, but to fully understand the reason why, not so simple. To this day, I cannot fully answer why my desire was to live my life childless. I have no regrets with that life choice or any others I have made along the way. How could I have known at 54 years old the essence of a child would enter my life in the guise of a mother challenged by Alzheimer's? I did not ask for this, but it is the current chapter of my life. What this flip-flopped role of daughter becoming mother has shown me is what a wonderful mother I would have been... what a wonderful "mother" I am! My role reversal with mom is nothing short of amazing. The dynamic of being thrust into this "parental" role is life-changing. I have learned to embrace this frail being whose existence has become dependency and helplessness. Her emotional tantrums that seem to flair up when things don't go just as she expected. No fault of her own, of course, just another result of the disconnect in her thought process from her disease. How could I have known at 54 years old the essence of a child would enter my life in the guise of a mother challenged by Alzheimer's? Preparing healthy meals and snacks and administering medications are daily affairs. Gently cleansing her 86 year old body in lavender suds as she clings to me in the shower. Pulling her outfits out for the day and often getting vetoed by her for my bl...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news