I was blessed to have an amazing Dad who worked very hard to become a man who put his family first.  In fact, when I think of the childhood my dad experienced in comparison to the one he provided for me I  am in awe of the differences.

Without a doubt, I would say that my dad was a success in all the important areas of life.  I am so thankful for the ways he helped me to learn to think about success in my life.

Let’s think more about…

Success.

Dreams and goals help you determine your success in life.  Raising your kids to be happy and successful humans is often a goal of parenting.  Getting the next promotion or achieving a specific job title is success at work for you.

Have you ever taken the time to think about what success looks like in your caregiving role?

As I read this famous quote by Zig Ziglar I was challenged to think about why I feel my caring season for my dad was a SUCCESS.

So many times through my caregiving season I felt frustrated and unable to help my dad.  I’m sure you have felt this way too.

The key to moving out of this place of frustration for me was realizing I was doing the best I could and looking for help in how I might do it better.  We have to work with what we have but we also have to remember that the experience of others is something we can draw from.

Not trying to do it all alone was one of the things I think helped me to look back with no regrets.  There is more peace, more competence, and more success in not going it alone, you can get the support you need.

The other thing that stands out to me in my caring season is my personal standards.  I spent time defining the standard of care I expected for my dad.  I created a mantra I repeated over and over again when caring for my dad.
“Is he as HAPPY and HEALTHY as can be at this stage of his life?”

I couldn’t cure Alzheimer’s but I could create opportunities for him to enjoy himself and to live as pain-free as possible.

So whether it be by attending a ballgame or playing ping pong, knowing what made him happy helped me feel I was being a successful caregiver.

Getting him to a doctor who would help us deal with the pain of arthritis or side effects from the medication was something I did and it helps me today know that I did all I could.

Success to me is reaching the end of your caring season and knowing it has helped you become all that you can be.

How will you define success in your caring season?