Honoring Parents

I am disgusted by the things my mother has done. She is old now and needs me, but there is nothing in her life that deserves respect. How can I respect her without losing my dignity?

I have written before about not judging others for doing more or less than me. The words may have sounded good at the time, but now I realize that I hadn’t really internalized them...

I would become the mother I never had. I would heal by giving and by being generous. I would heal by being positive, optimistic and uncritical.

This was my mother? My mother, the college professor? The valedictorian of her class? . . . I told the nurses what had transpired, and with understanding looks they explained that this type of mental deterioration was not uncommon for people with end-stag...

I am incredibly close to my father, and he has always been a tremendous pillar of strength for me. However, I can't really say he has aged gracefully; and while he has always loved to protect and give to me, he doesn't really want any help in return...

As recently as ten years ago, when I was still working as a geriatric social worker, I never imagined myself as a full time caregiver...

There is little more painful than having to step up and watch the helplessness and anxiety of a surviving elderly parent...

I look briefly at my mom, who no longer cares about what she wears or whether she is washed. Then I take a more careful look.

By honoring both father and mother, we learn to connect and develop a relationship with G‑d.

By including the nursing assistants in the culture of the residents, I showed that their work was important, appreciated and valued.