The Highs and Lows of Life
By MARILYN
@Marilynda1225 (79769)
United States
June 4, 2016 9:52am CST
Happy Saturday everyone!! Hope this day finds you all well and doing something fun
I've had a rough few days with taking care of my mom. Dementia is a terrible thing and as it progresses the care changes as well.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed and hoping today is a better day.
On a brighter note my grandson graduated from high school on Thursday. I'm so proud of him. I wasn't able to go to the graduation as there wasn't anyone to care for my mom so although I was disappointed I missed the ceremony I was there in spirit.
This month of June brings anniversaries and birthdays in our family so we always have a reason to smile and celebrate.
Life is full of highs and lows but I try to count my blessings when the pendulum swings to the low end.
Hope everyone has a great weekend 
19 people like this
20 responses
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
8 Jun 16
It sounds like you are doing a great job.... with your mum and it is not an easy role to fulfill.... I'm glad your son had a good graduation...and that you are able to count your blessings... especially when it gets hard to do so..... strength and peace be with you.... I hope you and your mum have more good days than bad days....
2 people like this
@Juliaacv (48447)
• Canada
4 Jun 16
Congratulations to your grandson, you should be proud. And I don't think that I really have the words to tell you what a God-send you must be to your mother. When my Dad's heal began to fail steadily, I could see that my mother wasn't able to do all and I talked to my Dad and asked him if I could go on compassionate care for a few months and just lend a hand. He was a very proud man, and he wanted his end weeks and days to be more natural. Now, mind you, when he was admitted to the hospital for the last 2 weeks of my life, he asked for me every single day. I told the family that I'd only go every other day, so that the rest of them could spend some much-needed time with him. In the end, they all stayed over night one evening, but we went home, out of respect. The next morning my husband and I arrived just as the rest left, and my 2 aunts came, and he choose to pass during our watch. He looked at me during those last 20 minutes or so of his life, and he smiled such a big smile, and spoke such volumes to me thru his eyes. I know that he passed peacefully, I could feel his life slip out of his big strong hand as I held it. And although he didn't want anyone fussing over him his last few months (like I wanted to) I was there when he truly needed me. And every single day of my life, I ask myself, am I living my life in a manner that will allow me the peaceful passing that Dad had. It was humbling and very spiritual.
1 person likes this
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
8 Jun 16
what a truly touching memory you have ... @Juliaacv I'm glad you had that time with your father.... it sounds like he had a peaceful passage ..... and I just love your last statement about living in such a way that would allow you to have that sort of passing too.... awesome... very humbling and deeply spiritual.... thank you for sharing those deep and personal thoughts.... 
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (48447)
• Canada
8 Jun 16
@sueznewz2 Thank you, I was very lucky to have such a wonderful and great father. And I felt like he parented me right up until his last breath. He always told the non believers in the area, who used to question him about heaven, that nobody ever came back to tell anyone that it did or did not exist, so we'd all have to behave and wait and see. Then in his last minutes, he had a look on his face, that I was pretty sure was answering that question for me. I think that he saw heaven, but that is just me. And that is why I feel that he parented me right up until the very end. Had I not experienced that with him, I wouldn't have such a great feeling about it.
1 person likes this
@hostessman (11871)
• Tucson, Arizona
4 Jun 16
I hope your Mom improves some.. like you said there are highs and lows and you have to deal with both of them
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325818)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 Jun 16
What a shame you had to miss the graduation. Dementia really is the pits for both sufferers and carers.
@CRK109 (14558)
• United States
4 Jun 16
Caring for someone with dementia is the height of selflessness. The demands are high and the rewards are low. Your mother may never fully understand how blessed she is to have the care of someone who loves her so deeply, but God sees it all. And I commend you. I cared for my own mother for many years, although she didn't have dementia, and there were days I wanted to give up because the demands were so high. All these years later, I am so glad I stuck with it to give her the care she needed in a home she loved so much. It's all about Love. God bless you.
1 person likes this
@jstory07 (134465)
• Roseburg, Oregon
5 Jun 16
I hope you have more good than bad days with your mother,
@gr8nana6 (6614)
• Conyers, Georgia
4 Jun 16
Good Saturday Afternoon to you Marilyn. I am doing laundry and watching it rain cats and dogs outside, lol. I hope you have a wonderful weekend
@just4him (306354)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
4 Jun 16
Going great so far. Congratulations to your grandson. I hope your mom is doing well today.
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
4 Jun 16
It is good to always count our Blessings, it helps to get us through the hard times also. =) Congrats to your grandson for graduating-that's awesome!
@amadeo (111948)
• United States
4 Jun 16
this is very rough to handle it.I am not sure how I will if this ever happen to any member of my family.
The high is that your grandson graduate from high School.Get out to celebrate when the time come
@Dena91 (15860)
• United States
4 Jun 16
Prayers for you and your Mom. We found out last month Dad, Mike's dad, has dementia. I can relate to some of your days. Congratulations to your grandson on his graduation. I pray God's blessings on you and your family in the days ahead. Have a blessed day
