Am I really a ‘Caregiver’? (and what does that mean?)

“Caregiver.”

For years I never considered that this label belonged to me. It seemed too formal, to restrictive, too…important for what I did to help my chronically ill mum.
Hugs and housework and understanding.

Surely those didn’t deserve such a label?

am I really a caregiver_ www.calledtowatch.com #caregiver #struggle #chronicillness #writer #hope #chronic #faith #watching #spoonie

Yet when my younger sister was diagnosed with a brain tumour and I spent every other day at the hospital and I cared for her in many physical ways from feeding to advocating for her with the pain team, I still didn’t feel this label belonged to me.

But I also felt that I needed the help a label brings.

Without a label I did not have the words to share my story.

READ MORE….

am I really a caregiver 2 #chronicillness #suffering #loneliness #caregiver #pain #caregiving #spoonie #faith #God #Hope

(today I’m posting over at Chronic-Joy.org).

am I really a caregiver 2 #chronicillness #suffering #loneliness #caregiver #pain #caregiving #spoonie #faith #God #Hope

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Author: Emily J. M.

Hi, I'm Emily. Two of my closest family members struggle with chronic illness, and I watch them. That's hard, and so I write about life as a 'Watcher', what it looks like to support them and find Hope.

3 thoughts on “Am I really a ‘Caregiver’? (and what does that mean?)”

    1. Thanks Brendan! Much appreciated – and I enjoyed reading your list of the other blogs you nominated 🙂 I am undecided whether I will participate as I want to stay true to the theme of this blog, but perhaps I will over on my personal wordpress blog!

      1. You’re welcome! It’s totally up to you as to how you handle it…each blogger (or at east each blogger who sticks to a specific theme) has a different way of handling off topic posts, myself included.

Thoughts? I'd love to hear from you, friend.