February 19th is National Caregivers Day in the USA. For the occasion, I began to think about words that hold power when we say them and words that hold power for us when we hear them. We know that people we love and care for sometimes live with great suffering
Continue readingTag: caregiving language
THE CAREGIVERS' LIVING ROOM A Blog by Donna Thomson: ASKING FOR OR OFFERING HELP – WHY IS IT SO SO HARD?!
Recently, a friend and I railed at how homeless people on the street are ignored. “What kind of a society do we live in where we step over another human being lying on the sidewalk?” she demanded. I visualised myself on the street, seeing a human shape huddled under
Continue readingTHE CAREGIVERS' LIVING ROOM A Blog by Donna Thomson: HOW TO TALK ABOUT CAREGIVING AT WORK
Talking about caregiving at work can be difficult and stressful. And that’s important because 35% of ALL employed Canadians have caring responsibilities at home. Dr.Zachary White is an expert in the barriers that natural caregivers face in explaining their responsibilities at home to others, including employers. Dr. White is an Associate
Continue readingTHE CAREGIVERS' LIVING ROOM A Blog by Donna Thomson: Tongue-Tied in Caregiving: Why is Asking and Offering So Hard?
Most days I drive across a bridge linking my neighborhood with our son Nick’s suburb. Homeless folks hang out at the stop lights either side of the bridge. They bob between the cars, hat in hand, trying to make eye contact. They smile, with or without teeth. Depending on my
Continue readingTHE CAREGIVERS' LIVING ROOM A Blog by Donna Thomson: The Language of Care – Have We Lost It?
Recently, a friend and colleague railed at our collective lack of empathy for homeless people living on the street. “What kind of a society do we live in where we step over another human being lying on the sidewalk?” she demanded. I visualised myself on the street, seeing a
Continue readingTHE CAREGIVERS' LIVING ROOM - A Blog by Donna Thomson: Saying "I’m Fine" When I’m Not
Yesterday I was chatting with an online friend – a mother who is lightyears ahead of me in wisdom and experience. We were talking about coping with the stress of raising a child who is very medically complex. My friend wrote “I’ve always felt like two people. The woman I
Continue reading