Challenges You Will Face Being a Mommy and Looking After Elderly Parents

Being a mommy is the best job in the world, no doubt about it. However, things are not always perfect, and sometimes life can throw a bit of a curveball at you. One curveball that could have been thrown your way could have been the care of aging or elderly parents. Perhaps you knew it was coming and had never really prepared well enough, or perhaps you were in denial about what it would be like. Now, however, the time has come, and you are juggling being a mommy while looking after your elderly parents. There is, of course, no going back, so you have to make the best out of it.

The Challenges You Will Face and the Solutions You Need to Put into Place

You may have thought about some challenges, such as logistics, especially if you are in different states, but there may also be challenges that you may not have even thought about, such as mom guilt. Of course, most, if not all, challenges can be overcome, and with a strong support network around, you can tackle anything that comes your way. So, what challenged should you be preparing for and in anticipation of?

Mom Guilt – It is a Real Thing

Yes, unfortunately, it exists. You will be busy looking after your parents, but at the back of your mind, you will be feeling guilty about time spent away, or apart from your children. Mom guilt can eat away at you if you are not careful. Not becoming too consumed by guilt is probably your best way forwards. If you stop and think about everything you are missing out on at your own home, you may not be able to look after your parents correctly, and this would then leave you feeling even guiltier. So, be aware that you will, on occasions feel guilty. Learning to live with guilt will allow you to focus on the task at hand and ensure you provide the best care to your parents.

Not Having Enough Time to Yourself

That free time you used to get when the kids went to school or kindergarten is now gone. You feel like you are constantly running around, and you feel as though you never have any time for yourself. You need time for yourself, and it is important that you make time as and where you can. Looking at respite with Brandywine Living at a location such as Brandywine Reflections will give you some much-needed time away from your parents and away from caregiving responsibilities and duties. Time away will allow you to just be yourself and be a mommy again. If you do not create time for yourself, you will struggle to sustain what you are doing.

Feeling Overworked and Unappreciated

As a mommy, it happens regularly, and unfortunately, it also happens as a caregiver. Feeling unappreciated and feeling overworked can leave you feeling a bit down, which is, of course, not a situation you want to find yourself in. You will feel worse if your parents are suffering from a disease such as dementia or Alzheimer’s, which may even make it difficult for them to recognize or remember you. Telling yourself that you are doing your best and giving yourself a boost is the best way to approach the situation every day. Remember that your parents do appreciate you even if they never say it or show it, and, although the job is tiring, knowing that you are supporting your parents will ease the feelings and emotions you feel.

Feeling Lonely and Tired

Getting enough sleep is important. As a mommy, you need to be fresh and ready to tackle anything your kids throw at you, from life questions to homework and mountains of washing. As a caregiver to your parents, you need to have had enough sleep to tackle their house, personal care, chores, and tasks. When you are overtired, times can be tough, and you can end up feeling lonely. When you feel lonely, your emotions can get the better of you. You can feel like a terrible mommy; you can feel like an awful caregiver. So, to fight off these feelings and emotions as much as you possibly can, you must ensure you rest and sleep where you can and when you can.

Balancing and Juggling Your Life, Your Family’s Life, and, of Course, Your Parents Life!

A perfect balance does not exist no matter how hard you try. However, utilizing the time that you have, prioritizing tasks, duties, and chores, and ensuring that you spend good quality time with everyone who you love and care about will ensure that you get a near as close to perfect balance. Remember that time spent with loved ones, memories made, and experiences shared will help you get stronger both as an individual and as a family unit.

Having a Bit of Freedom

Letting loose, not having any responsibilities, and being a little bit carefree is what you crave. Having a bit of freedom, leaving the children at home with a responsible adult, and getting out of the house and away from all of the commitments you have is sometimes just what you need to do. Having a change of scenery, doing something different, and even getting in outside help to assist you with your parents will give you breathing space. Breathing space will help you feel like you again and allow you to be a fantastic mommy again.

The Feeling That You Are Not Doing Enough for Everyone

The ultimate challenge you will face is the feeling that you are never doing enough, no matter how hard you try. Caring is hard, being a mommy is hard, and unfortunately, there will never be a perfectly balanced match that results in you feeling fantastic. Doing the best that you can do, being there at all times for your children, and being there for your parents is what you need to focus on doing. Just being there is enough for your children, and it is enough for your parents, so remember this in times of self-doubt or worry.