Turning Sorrow into Joy
Around the same time that my mother was diagnosed with
Alzheimer’s, my toddler grandson moved in with us for awhile.
I rejoiced as Tyler
learned to speak and increased his vocabulary.
But I was saddened when my mother struggled to remember words and
names.
As Tyler
advanced from baby mobiles to building blocks, my mother could no longer figure
out how to dial a telephone.
My husband and I would shop for educational but fun items
that would challenge Tyler
and stimulate his brain as he grew. At
the same time we would shop for Mom, trying to find items that would simplify
her life, such as remotes and telephones with the fewest number of buttons
possible.
Having Tyler
with us at this difficult time was a Godsend.
It helped me come to terms with the fact that although I was facing a progressive
death of my mother, I was also experiencing a progressive life of a grandchild. In the dark times, hearing the laughter of Tyler reminded me that
with sorrow, there is joy.
It is so easy to fall into depression when caring for a
loved one with Alzheimer’s. Try to find
somebody or something that brings you joy to offset the dark times.
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