Week 8 Reflection

I decided to do my reflection this week on the chapter reading, particularly chapter 13. This is the most relavent in my life right now that I can highly relate to. I found myself, at the age of 32, having to make a life altering decision. My Mom became very ill, the doctor called it terminally ill, and the relationship between my parents was also deteriorating. My parents and I decided that I would move in with my mom and my dad would move in where I was (I was living with two of my brothers helping to take care of my older brothers kids) and he would take over my role there. We all thought it would be temporary until either my mom got better or worse. That was back in October 2012. That month was really hard because I was working full-time, but was also my mom's caregiver. There was no question that I was going to do whatever it took to make it so my mom could get better. I sacrificed (I say that lightly) my social life to an extent and also my freedom. I was stressed to the max. I found it interesting in the reading that, in general, most caregivers of sick or aging parents are the women regardless of whether or not they are employed, mothers themselves and/or wives. Although I am not a mother or wife, I still felt the emotional and physical stress of a sick parent. With my parents not being together and fighting as much, my mother was able to recuperate, along with medical intervention. She is doing much better, stronger, able to care for herself now. As for me, I decided that I was going to go back to school. I would drop everything again if it came down to it because I believe that we should honor our mothers and fathers. She always took care of me (and still does) so I feel it is my duty to care for her.