Helping my cousins through caregiving is giving me a new perspective. I'm finally giving myself credit for caring for my mom.
I was my mom's caregiver for 10 years but didn't acknowledge what it took. Now, helping cousins through the same thing, I'm giving myself credit.
A writer shares how helping her cousins with caregiving for aging relatives has given her a new perspective on her own experiences as a caregiver. With many of her cousins starting to care for their aging parents and relatives, the author now walks them through the process she herself went through with her mother. This new role as a caregiver for her cousins has given her a fresh outlook on her ten-year caregiving journey with her mother, Angelina, who died at 100 years and four months in 2023.
The author's caregiving started in 2013 when Angelina moved in with the family, as her own health began to decline. Initially, the author provided simple assistance like bringing over meals, but as time passed, her duties grew more demanding. By the last three years of Angelina's life, the author was providing round-the-clock care. During this period, the author often downplayed the significance of her role and denied the emotional toll caregiving took on her.
Despite the challenges, the author acknowledges the immense responsibility she carried, comparing it to the advice given on airplanes to put on oxygen masks before assisting others. She emphasizes the importance of taking care of oneself while helping others. In recent months, the author is finally acknowledging the selfless dedication she displayed as a caregiver, giving herself the credit she had previously denied herself.
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