Guilty Pleasures

@grandmajoan
I think we could all use some art therapy, if you don't mind attaching a photo of your paintings. Thanks!
🎨 🖌

I'm in favor of "guilty" pleasures, but without the guilt. Taking care of one's self is crucial if you're to be an effective caregiver. Burnout is real and no one else is going to take better care of our loved ones than us. So take care of yourself, too. Without guilt.

@judimahoney Thanks for asking. Here are a some —

@judimahoney Thanks for asking. Here are a some —

I agree that we all need our pleasures and I have mine without any guilt because I know caregiving is draining and anything that I can do to give me pleasure is just what I need. Tending my garden restores my soul. This morning while my husband was still sleeping ( he sleeps virtually all day now) I was out in the front up on a ladder trimming some trees along the driveway. I am getting our home ready for a wedding reception fiesta in our backyard in October for my daughter and her fiancé. My family is so big that not everyone could be invited to the actual wedding in September in Mammoth Lakes, CA where they live. Also it is in the Sierra Nevada mountains at 8,000 feet and is difficult to get to unless you drive. Not an option for some of the older relatives. I also have been sewing since I was a child and am busy making my dress for the wedding and also my daughter's veil. For me keeping busy with projects that have an end result-usually good- gives me a sense of control over part of my life. I have no control over my husband's dementia and really can't know that the future will bring so I try to find something to be grateful for each day and that works for me.

@wctdoc1943

Thanks @wctdoc1943. I still feel guilty about drinking alcohol, having read about all of its harmful effects to our mind and bodies. I also feel guilty about posting because it diverts my attention away from George.

Thanks everyone else, for your input. I will keep trying to be a better caregiver like all of you so that I will be conscience-free to enjoy my guilty pleasures.

@ocdogmom I'm excited for you in planning your "Fiesta" wedding reception in your backyard. Your note reminds me, that even on difficult days with our daily caregiving - in whatever stage we're in - there are so many things to be thankful for. I don't have a large family, so I celebrate the joy I have in just reading what you are planning to do in making your own dress and your daughter's veil. I think that's very special. Yes, life does go on. A reminder to me, to create as many memories as we can, my husband and I walk small walks every day. We have this competitive game play, since we're surrounded by a public golf course. We look for stray balls over by our rental condominium side which is private and not part of the course. One ball hit our car and smashed the back light at the tune of $900 to fix. I'm proud to report, we found 90 balls in two days....Now, that's a lot of stray balls and bad golfers.
My best, Karla

Guilty pleasure. Reading and responding to posts here. My husband doesn’t know that this website is so important to me because he really doesn’t think that his cognitive issues are significant and that I need a support system.

My pleasures, guilty or not, are having some time to myself in the early morning, exercising, going to my painting studio, seeing friends or talking to them on the phone, getting an occasional mani/pedi, watching a good TV show after dinner with my hubbie and reading.

Guilty pleasure. Reading and responding to posts here. My husband doesn’t know that this website is so important to me because he really doesn’t think that his cognitive issues are significant and that I need a support system.

My pleasures, guilty or not, are having some time to myself in the early morning, exercising, going to my painting studio, seeing friends or talking to them on the phone, getting an occasional mani/pedi, watching a good TV show after dinner with my hubbie and reading.