The roles and responsibilities of caregiving snuck up on me…
Caring for my Mom turned into a crushing, all-consuming avalanche as I entered into what became a 10 year caregiver journey; overseeing her 35 (yes 35!) complex medical diagnoses; requiring moving her 14 times.
Continually trying to make sense of what was happening, my former life slipped into a distant memory. Exhausted, there were many moments that I thought I could not go on. Then I remembered I only had to get through “this moment.” I then stepped back, breathed, grounded and chose a new response; again and again. Sometimes hard emotions, which seemed to be my companions, were reckoned with, but in other moments I became curious …could I really shift my mood and perspective and land on the best (not perfect) decision?
I struggled with the big “how to” questions..how to keep love alive when I wasn’t “feelin’ it”; how to balance both of our needs and be true to myself so I didn’t totally abandon my life. How to get to the heart of the matter and simply ask, ” what’s important in this moment?”
I did it very imperfectly. There were moments, I just let it all go and went for the gusto….rather than take Mom, wheelchair, etc to one of her (almost daily) doctor’s appointment; I cancelled it and whisked her off for ice cream hot fudge sundaes to her delighted surprise and laughter…creating a memory that warms my heart to this day.
Committed to dig deeper as a caregiver “archaeologist,” I found answers. I survived caregiving.and so can you!
Caregiving touched and transformed every aspect of my life; I’ve mined the learning pearls, and mapped out the doing and being of the caregiving journey.
In Caregiving Journeys, you, the family caregiver are not the forgotten person in the caregiving equation any longer!
Why Sharon Spector?
Sharon is passionate about caregivers reclaiming and honoring their own lives while caregiving. She combines hands-on caregiving experience with a unique toolkit of coaching and teaching spanning over 30 years.. Her warm interactive style and and lighthearted spirit (with a touch of Zen) helps caregivers live their best lives while caring for another.
A Certified Wellness Coach, Certified Inter-generational Guide and Certified Being Advisor, her experience also includes educating elders in Assisted Living facilities; working with educators at the world-renowned Eden Alternative. In her life prior to caregiving, as a corporate management trainer, Sharon facilitated workshops throughout the U.S .as a change leader, conference presenter and keynote speaker.