A Small Victory

As Mum's main carer, I face daily battles with numerous challenges while caring for her. So, when a small victory arises, it reminds me that even on the hardest of days, good will come.

My main areas of difficulty are personal care and sleep with my Mum. I have always told myself that I will never dictate her life; it is her own, and I am there to support it, not control it.

If Mum wishes to nap or go to bed when she wants, she does just that. I try to align my schedule with hers to ensure I get sufficient rest myself. However, my body clock knows I don't need as much rest as she perhaps does, so it isn't always easy for me to rest as long as she does. I often use such times to get other things done around the house that aren't quite so simple to do while she is awake.

My small victory came from both areas in one day: Mum was more compliant with her bath. Not perfect by any means, but certainly more compliant! I could hardly believe it. I was not attacked while helping her undress, I was not sweating by the end of it, my heart wasn't in my throat, the bathroom floor didn't resemble a swimming pool, and my clothes were bone dry! YES!! To round things off, Mum had a lie-in that same morning! YESSSS!

Appreciate your victories, no matter how small; they are worth every moment.