The article recounts the author's experience as a stay-at-home mother who became the primary caregiver for her mother diagnosed with lung cancer. Despite hoping for healing family moments, the reality was a chaotic lurch between the demands of toddlers and the harsh realities of caregiving. Guilt permeated her days, as she constantly juggled attention between her children and her mother. Yet, as her mother's health declined, moments of connection persisted, demonstrating resilience and love even amidst the trials of illness and caregiving.
...I thought there would be space to simply be with her - to talk, to reminisce, to connect. But caregiving was never still. It was crisis management, the constant triage of needs.
Guilt was the main feeling in those days; I never felt like I was fully taking care of or helping anyone who needed me in the capacity they needed.
As the chemo took its toll and my mother grew weaker, my life slowed - necessarily, but unexpectedly. Even as she became less able to care for herself, she found ways to remain present for my children.
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