Regardless of what anyone says, I have to say that care giving is akin to living hell. It really is.....the time and aggravation alone is mind boggling. It's never ending! It's literally a 24/7 commitment......no, it is a 24/7 commitment. It gets very old real soon......the same regimen day in and day out. It do not wish that torture on my worst enemy. Servitude......that word says it all. Most families will have to endure this hell at some point in their lives. It's as though life gets going smoothly for awhile and then the curse of old age comes into the picture and the gravy train stops and the torture takes over. It's just one of the many pitfalls of life. It's the way life is......for all of us. No one gets to live a good life, we all have to endure our share of craziness in our life......whether is be financial trouble, health problems......or whatever.......Murphy's Law is always there to give us trouble. You all know how Murphy's Law works......"what can go wrong, will go wrong". I hold that saying to be most true.
And IMHO, I don't think anyone who objects to whining belongs on any support group! Whining is protected in the US Constitution, Amendment One. You say whining, I say venting.
Share, vent, ask for and give support here, but there is never room for judging others. Everybody's journey is unique and personal.
I do think caregiving can be rewarding and I know it can be tolerable. However, people can only keep giving so long without something coming back in. Many of us just end up poor and all alone, while receiving many insincere accolades of what wonderful children we are. Pretty soon it all sounds like blah blah blah.
I like what Hillary Clinton used to say about children -- that it takes a community to raise a child. I think the same is true about older people, but the community evaporates and blows away during those final years, often leaving just one person to go through the pain with them.
please be considerate of others situations and I don't think any of us don't love our parent but certainly are suffering from CG burnout/compassion fatigue...being a nurse should be aware of that syndrome
I'm really glad you're so happy with your choice as well.