Being a parent is one of the most rewarding and difficult tasks we will ever face. We have to prepare for our children’s future, but we also have to deal with whatever life throws at us. It gets to a point when you reach a certain age where your parents begin to show the signs of aging. This could mean doubling up as a caregiver as well as being a parent. By having to look after your children and making sure that your parents are looked after can begin to have a negative effect on your frame of mind. So, for anybody that is concerned about this, or is going through it, how can you best cope?
Can You Do It All?
At the very outset, you might feel focused and ready to tackle the task. You may have planned everything down to the finest details; but, unfortunately, life throws curveballs. You might feel prepared and ready to take everything on, but if you have parental duties, a job, and then have to look after your parents on top of this, it can feel there is no letup.
It has everything to do with mindset, and how you can cope with it. It’s certainly feasible, but it’s important to make sure that you have the emotional stores to cope with this. What happens when your parents get older and it’s physically impossible for you to do everything?
It’s not something that we want to think about, but making sure they have the best end of life care available means that they can be looked after in a professional capacity. This is something that we all need to consider; the practical aspects don’t always figure, because our emotions could cloud our judgement. It’s better to operate with a more pragmatic approach sometimes.
What Are Your Options?
If you are adamant about looking after your parents, then you need to have an appropriate plan in place. This means weighing your options, from what professional care is available, to planning out your life so you can accomplish each task effectively. This may sound cold-hearted to consider it as a “task”, but if you are determined to make it work, making sure that everything is organized, and asking others for more help, will ensure that it’s manageable, and you don’t feel overwhelmed by the situation.
This means, especially with regards to looking after your parents, if you have siblings that could pick up the slack, they should be willing to help. It also means asking your partner for more leeway, or asking them to contribute more in other ways. This can make life easier for everyone. There is always a way around it, but it requires meticulous planning.
And even though you plan everything to a T, you need to be aware of how you are going to be able to cope with this emotionally. This means making sure that you have adequate time away from the situation in which to rest and recuperate. There may be no let up as far as your calendar is concerned, especially when you have so many different things to do, but it is important that you take the opportunities, when and where you can, to have a mental break. It is going to be a strain. But if you are determined that you are going to tackle this yourself, preparation is the best solution.
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