Laugh or cry. I choose to laugh!

I have been the caretaker of my mom for 15 months now and often feel that all of the information out there was about how to help HER feel better. Granted, she needed me. The advice out there said, "don't forget to take care of yourself!".   Problem was,  by the time I was able to get help and take care of myself,  I was too tired to care.

 So, I just got slap-happy. It occurred to me that I really could have fun while being in the moment with mom. Some of the things caretak-ees do is amusing.  I try to not jump a line of respect but when you tell someone that her scooter does not fit into the bathroom door at Target while you are holding the door open to show her, then she DRIVES right in!  That was a grow or die moment for me. I could have become embarrassed or yelled at her but it struck my funny bone and I had to laugh. Laughter is good.

Demonic dentures!

Dentures are a "leap of love".  I had never handled them before my 82 year old mom moved  in with me last year. THEY SCARED ME!  So lifelike. They had their own personality.  

We came cross country, from CA to MD last year, on a plane. Unfortunatly I  had no idea just how important denture paste was until she laughed and her teeth went flying out of her mouth. They landed under the passenger's seat in front of us.  What to do?  Airline seats have little leg room, let alone squatting room. Luckily the passenger to my right was kind enough to let me push him aside and go under the forward seat. It was a long reach but, success.

In hindsight, I had to laugh because crying was not an option.

This is one of the scenarios that was rich with exhaustion.