My parents [90+] still live under their own roof, and I under my own. I am still Gopher and Driving Miss Daisy and it seems like I am always doing something to help them when I am not at work.
But I have noticed that when it comes to scheduling my own doctor appointments or having things done around the house, either by myself or calling in a professional, that I drag my feet big time. Years have gone by for some major items such as getting plumbing repaired, getting estimates for remodeling, or calling to get dead trees taken down.
Could be I am afraid if I schedule something like the plumbing that it will consume my time as I will need to be home and what if my parents needs medical attention. I know the old "what if" that may never happen. I never use to be like this :P
I used to enjoy doing little projects around the house, but I don't anymore. Part of the fun of doing the projects in the past was doing the shopping for the project. It was fun going to the different hardware stores looking for a new faucet, or looking for bricks to build a flower bed etc. Now, my time is pressed. There is no time to wander around looking at items or getting new ideas. Mom is no longer physically able to wander around a store so she has to be left at home. I'm lucky if I get 4 hours a month to do grocery shopping. I think in the future after Mom is gone I'll get back to the way it was, but for now it is what it is.
As far as scheduling doctors appointments for yourself maybe you're like me, just plain tired of doctors. I take Mom to all her doctor appointments, but in all honesty I can't see that they've done much to improve her condition. I know they try, but the reality is there isn't much they can do. I often think that some of that fatalism has rubbed off on me regarding my own healthcare. And then again there's that added stress of what if I go and they find something wrong. Definitely not ready to deal with that.
My lack of inspiration is not my mother's fault except that maybe her laziness is starting to rub off on me. I spent a lot of time the first years trying to put the house in order. It goes to chaos again in no time, so there doesn't seem to be much point in investing effort. Besides, it is hard to clean around someone who is sleeping and watching TV in the main part of the house all day long. Wouldn't it be nice if they went out to play sometime?
I also have a list a mile long of things I need to do just for ME. I just don't seem to ever get them done. It's very frustrating.
"Caregiver syndrome or caregiver stress is a condition of exhaustion, anger, rage, or guilt that results from unrelieved caring for a chronically ill dependent."
Today I had to laugh because I have just been zooming around as usual, from one thing to the next. Making lunch, starting dinner and doing my taxes all at about the same time!! Oh yes, and picking up used Kleenex from everywhere!! I have never seen so much!! And it is everywhere!! I try to do a thorough search of my mom's clothes before washing, but it still manages to get all over everything. Yes, Kleenex is my whine for today!!
Sally, income taxes !! Oh my gosh, wonder when I will around to installing this years software. That's one major chore I put off big time.
be filling out that form truthfully. I have enough to do dealing with my MIL's alz/dem.
I know I posted on this before, but I'm so lackadaisical (sp??) lately about my appearance.
Hair? Ponytail, or I wear it down but looks like I didn't brush it, even if I did, lol. ForGET about even trying to style it.
Clothes? I take Business Casual to new lengths. It's terrible. Just a few days ago, I read a quote from some fashion person who said that it's not about being a clothes horse, but putting some thought into dressing is a sign of a healthy attitude and self-esteem. I agreed with her. I'm feeling like "what's the point?" and that's not a good attitude.
If I can get someone out tomorrow afternoon, Dad will need to wait until another date and time for me to run errands for him.
But I did get a bunch of other things done that I had been putting off. Wanting to do income taxes does that to me :)