Taking care of Gram is a blessing and a joy, but it does require some adjustments and some work, especially around the holidays. Gram’s dementia means that routine and stability are paramount to her happiness, and she is always less anxious when everything is the same. Holiday visits from families, extra activity in the house, … Read more
We are an inter-generational household. Three and a half years ago, we moved my grandmother in with us. Mark and I both firmly believe in the sanctity of all human life, from conception to natural death, and we believe that all people deserve to be loved and cared for with dignity. We have the means … Read more
Where there is no honor to the elderly, there is no future for the young. — General audience, St. Peter’s Square, March 4, 2015 I stumbled upon this quote from Pope Francis recently, and it made me realize that it’s been awhile since I’ve posted an update on how Gram is doing and what elder … Read more
It’s true about children, and it’s true about the elderly. I learn and grow every single day of caring for Gram. Sometimes I wish there was a “100 Things You Need to Know About Caring for the Elderly” book or a “5 Things to Do to Keep a Peaceful Inter-generational Home” article, a quick and … Read more
We’ve reached an exciting (and slightly terrifying) stage of life over here- we are in the process of buying our first house. Since we found out that Mark matched locally, we’ve been working with a realtor and hoping to find a place to call home in our current town. The right house in the right … Read more
One of the most wonderful things about marrying into a big family has been gaining so many siblings. Mark is the exact middle of the seven, with three older sisters and three younger brothers. His youngest brother, John, is a junior in high school. I have always had a special love for John, probably because … Read more