Many people have a lot on their plate. They often have young children (or even older ones who are into a lot of activities). They may work, with part or full-time. Even stay-at-home parents have a lot on their plates. They rarely take any time for themselves!
Then, what happens when your parents need help? Many people feel guilty and feel like it is their responsibility to make sure that they help their parents as much as they can (or even more than they are able to). There are times when this can feel like a full-time job, because they need that much extra help. Some people even move their parents into their homes in order to care for them properly.
Because most people are too busy, many caregivers burn out quickly. They simply don't have enough time to get everything done, and it becomes too much to handle.
However, it doesn't have to be this way. Here are some tips to help you raise your family and take care of your parents.
Get the help that you need. You don't have to do everything yourself. If you have a brother or sister, have them help. Do you have an aunt or uncle who could chip in once in a while? Maybe you have a single relative that wouldn't mind moving in with your parents to help.
Get help at home! You may even need help at home. Maybe your relative could help you by spending time with your children. Maybe your children are old enough to help with the laundry and some light cleaning? Utilize your husband or wife. There are plenty of things that they could do to take the load off of you.
Don't be afraid to spend some money to get help. Life might be a lot easier if you hired a cleaning service. You may even get a discount for two homes instead of one! Maybe you can find a neighbor boy who would be happy to mow your parents' lawn?
You may also want to think about a caregiver. Hiring a caregiver may be the next step if your parents want to continue to live at home. You may be able to find someone who is willing to do whatever you need, whether it is taking them to their appointments, or coming in one to two times a day to check up on them. You may even get a caregiver who will spend the night, just in case they need something.
You can't forget about your own health. Though you may feel overwhelmed with too much on your plate, you have to take care of yourself. If you don't, you aren't going to be able to take care of anyone else, including your family and your parents. Make sure that you eat properly and do your best to get enough sleep every night. Exercise is important, not only for weight loss, but also for stress relief. You also need to find a way to unwind and relax every day, or you will just burn out!
It can be very hard to take care of your home, family, and your parents. You are going to need help, whether you enlist the help of relatives or hire someone to help where you are not able. Even hiring a neighbor boy to mow the lawn can take one thing off of your plate. That might just give you enough time to get a good workout in! You can't forget about yourself or you will be no good to anyone else!
If you want to make sure that your parents' will (or your own) is ready, don't hesitate to contact us today.
