“How Caregiving Changes Us – What Dies, What Grows”

Donna Thomson is a caregiver for her son (with disabilities) and for her mother.  She writes a blog called “The Caregivers’ Living Room.”  I thought this short post from February 2017 on how caregiving has changed her was worth sharing.  She explains what has died in her, and what has grown in her.

Robin

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www.donnathomson.com/2017/02/how-caregiving-changes-us-what-dies.html

How Caregiving Changes Us – What Dies, What Grows
Sunday, 5 February 2017
The Caregivers’ Living Room – A Blog by Donna Thomson

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about how we change over time as caregivers – the parts of ourselves that die and the new parts that grow.

What has died in me:
– An assumption that I will have spontaneity in my life
– The idea that life would carry on according to my plans
– The inability to be alone
– Insecurity in my own abilities to do what I put my mind to
– Fear of vulnerability

What has grown in me:
– The sense of being happy without other people to ‘make’ me happy
– Humility in the face of the random nature of what life deals me
– Confidence in my values and in my advocacy skills
– Acceptance of my own limitations in keeping my loved ones healthy and safe
– A growing awareness of my own mortality

What has died in you? What has grown?