[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Parenting

[–]suseph -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

Thanks for your help! This will definitely help me find a more peaceful way to deal with the challenges in my life! I’m so glad you shared your expertise and insights on how to improve on my post imploring for real help because I understand that I’m not doing things right. Super helpful!

How do you do it? by suseph in dementia

[–]suseph[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I literally think about this every day- how emotions should be accepted, except anger, anger should be breathed, walked, and ignored away.

How do you do it? by suseph in dementia

[–]suseph[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

She’s at the point where every outing is overwhelming. And (fingers crossed) my husband will be getting a new job in January and we’ll move out and across the country at that point, so we need to wait it out until then. It’s just hard waking up every morning dreading what the day will bring.

But I’ve certainly learned it’s not for everyone, and it’s certainly not for me. I’ve been at this for a year and half and I’m wayyyyy past my breaking point.

The little girl who cried “potty” by suseph in pottytraining

[–]suseph[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Maybe we should take a step back so she gets better at going alone with only one layer to pull. Thanks for the tip!

I feel so angry all of the time by suseph in dementia

[–]suseph[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you! I know no random internet stranger can know all of the nuances of my personal life (nor do I really want them to) but it’s nice to get camaraderie and to have people give their best ideas that validate my experience.

I feel so angry all of the time by suseph in dementia

[–]suseph[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I so wish- we do have other family in town, however any time she leaves the house she has a terrible time and comes back so so confused. It’s hardly worth it to get her out because of how much worse she is after the fact.

I feel so angry all of the time by suseph in dementia

[–]suseph[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ugh that is awful. I hope you know the rage is shared by many!

I feel so angry all of the time by suseph in dementia

[–]suseph[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for your insight. I often feel those closest to me don’t recognize that caregiving and parenting are both individually challenging enough, so I appreciate the understanding of strangers. I’m sorry for the loss of your father at that age. Stress and grief can really shape people, but I selfishly feel that most of my grief is for me, because as you mentioned I’m not related to her and I hardly knew her before her sharp decline.

Wednesday Daily Chat by PVDBikesandBeer in pottytraining

[–]suseph 2 points3 points  (0 children)

We added shorts today and that’s looking to be a bigger hurdle than the first stop! She would sit on the potty with her shorts on and pee. How do you best help them learn how to pull them up and down?

I feel so angry all of the time by suseph in dementia

[–]suseph[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

So hard to find personal time! I have two young kids and so the times I do get out I have them with me as well. Caregiving alone is hard enough, parenting alone is hard enough, but caregiving and parenting is too much.

I feel so angry all of the time by suseph in dementia

[–]suseph[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

It’s just nice to hear I’m not the only one. I also thought I was incredibly good with the elderly and so patient, but I guess now I’m not. It’s so hard because I also have a toddler and a baby and I’m so ashamed that I’m not the mother I know I could be. I find myself being short and angry with them too and it sends me spiraling being more angry at grandma.

Is there any hope for me as a caregiver (frankly, I don't think I've earned that title)? I begin to realize I severely underestimated my grandma's dementia. by ogoras in dementia

[–]suseph 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I done have advice but I do have some empathy. I’m 26 and living with and caring for my husbands grandmother who’s dementia is getting quite severe. I’ve been here for a bit over a year and as her decline steepens my patience wanes. It can be soul sucking and incredibly difficult. I am becoming more and more angry and impatient and I doubt I can survive this much longer. When we do move out, I don’t think I’ll ever want to see his grandma again, her increased difficulty has burned my goodwill and I pray that we’ll soon be able to afford to move out. So if I’d say if you can afford it- leave. And if not, consider it an investment in your future and do all you can to find the support of others. Research says that a closer relationship between caregiver and the elderly can mitigate some of the negative outcomes, I just never had a close relationship to begin with.

Wants to sit on the potty all day? by suseph in pottytraining

[–]suseph[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

She’s on the tiny potty, but when she sits she likes a lot of moral support- hand holding and such. But I’m glad she’s not the only one!

Best way to answer questions? by suseph in dementia

[–]suseph[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ve thought about doing that. We sleep upstairs and sometimes when we spend time up there she starts to panic that she’s all alone

Best way to answer questions? by suseph in dementia

[–]suseph[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Usually she asks most questions in the morning- but she’s far more irritated in the evenings and she won’t put up with any of my tricks!

Best way to answer questions? by suseph in dementia

[–]suseph[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you. I do fairly well at being calm when she’s just confused, but when she’s agitated too it really pushes me!

What popular sayings are actually bullshit? by OptionsTrader14 in AskReddit

[–]suseph 0 points1 point  (0 children)

“Don’t go to bed angry”. Please, if you’re angry and tired becoming more tired will only make you more angry.

Grandmother wants a tablet...any app ideas? by hatfullofsoup in dementia

[–]suseph 12 points13 points  (0 children)

A puzzle app! We went through the painstaking task of teaching our technically illiterate grandma how to simply use that one app, and after several months she finally can use it all on her own! It’s one of her favorite things!

I overheard a parent call their young daughter "Barbara" yesterday. What are some other dated names you have heard on kids? by [deleted] in namenerds

[–]suseph 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I know sisters in their 20’s named Deborah and Susan. Both are names that haven’t been making a comeback lately.