I know many have situations where respite is difficult or even impossible right now but I have to encourage all caregivers to strategize, plan and prepare to implement their much-needed Spring respite now!
I just came back from a 3-day out of town, out of mind, no wifi or cell reception, flat-out respite break/retreat and it was wonderful.... Sure, I had to go right back to caregiving almost the moment I came back but the spring in my step has lasted 4 days now. A lot of cobwebs were swept away and bad habits banished.
Please, if there is any way at all to get that little break you need -- do it now.
I might try to get one bed raked and turned, and if I'm lucky, I'll get started on moving some daylilies to act as borders.
And reading is always on the "break" agenda. If we get snow, as apparently is predicted, I'll wrap up in a warm blanket or quilt and either read more gardening magazines or finish the book I started a week or so ago.
I'm looking forward to reading of others' plans for a break.
Happy to hear you enjoyed your mini retreat. It is always nice to get a small break. Thank you for the kind reminder.
With all the snow we are having its hard to think about spring.:-) I'm going to try really hard to think of something new and different to try for myself.
I actually desperately need to go check on my property in the US, which is my house that I rented out to be able to come take care of my mother. The rent agreement will be over at the end of May and I hope they stay, because otherwise I’d be in deep trouble having to find new tenants when I have my mom here who cannot be alone.
But thinking positively, at the very least I should go check on my house. Now that would be absolutely a gift from God! but I don’t think I could possibly find anybody to stay with my mother as she cannot stay by herself. I’ve tried before and if someone finally comes they leave in a few days after my departure, and I’ve had to come back almost immediately, paying the fee to change my air ticket, and leaving everything pending, which is actually worse; I even have tried cooking for at least two weeks and leaving the food served in plates in the fridge, so my mom only had to take the food out and use the microwave, but my mom hit crisis (emotional crisis more than anything) in a few days.
But HOPE is the last thing we should lose! so I will keep hoping that something or someone comes up and I actually can take my quick break and also take care of the only asset I’ve managed to keep after changing my life completely to become a full,time caregiver over a year ago.
Very glad for you all that are able to disconnect. God knows we all need it!