REVOLVING OR EVOLVING?

Attending Alzheimer's support group meetings has helped me deal with my mother's situation, but today I could not follow the advice I'd been given. That advice was to not allow my world to revolve around my mother or her disease. Most days, and especially on Mondays, I make a list of things I want and/or need to accomplish. Today's list went like this:

 1)  laundry

 2)  cat care

 3)  choose church music

 4)  wash dishes

 5)  mending for Mom

 6)  find Mom a dentist/appt.

 7)  schedule doctor appt. for Mom

 8)  call director at Lamplight Inn

 9)  call and talk to nurse on Mom's floor

10) pay Mom's bills

11) work on storage items in barn

12) organize fabric in sewing room

13) start new project or finish old one 

Do you see the pattern there? I was able to accomplish the first four items on my list by 10am. I spent the rest of my day working on the next six and never even came close to approaching the remaining items. Ok. I admit it. I may try to do too much in one day. I might set my goals too high sometimes. I work on the "must do's", make sure my Mom's needs are met, and then, if there's any time left (which there rarely is), I think about doing things I really want to do for myself. By the end of the day I don't have the energy to tackle a project or organize anything. I want to learn how to better balance my time and priorites but what do I take off the list? The things that always go are the ones I want to do for me.

 

I don't want to be appear selfish, nor do I want to ignore my mother's needs. Today I was able to secure a dental appointment for her since she lost part of a tooth over the weekend. The appointment is for tomorrow at 12 noon. I've learned I can't count on her being ready when I arrive at Lamplight and I can't rush her, so I'll need to be in her room by 11:00am at the very latest. It also means I'll miss my 1:00pm Alzheimer's support group meeting. Doesn't it just figure?

After taking Mom to her dental appointment and making sure she has lunch, I'll come home and cuddle with the cats. They're always happy to see me and no matter what kind of day I've had, my mood is always brighter when I spend time with them. They're not very active these days. Each is trying to find a way to stay cool. I guess that entails conserving energy. I was worried about Elliot (in the photo above) over the weekend because he seemed lethargic, but then I began to notice all the cats are less active and are lounging on the cat condos or finding cooler spots on the part of the cement floor that isn't covered with carpeting. Elliot seems fine now. I think he, Rusty, and Baxter are feeling the heat more because they have such long fur. It's time for some fans.