Mothering Mother: A Daughter’s Humorous and Heartbreaking Memoir | Featured Books
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Carol O’Dell’s book, Mothering Mother: A Daughter’s Humorous and Heartbreaking Memoir, is available at amazon.com.
Author Archives: Carol O'Dell
Books by Carol O'Dell
Mothering Mother
By Carol O'Dell Publish Date: April 01, 2007
Formats: hardcover
Amazon: Amazon
Compelling and heartrending, this personal memoir chronicles the author's decision not to put her mother, who has Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, in … More
Posts by Carol O'Dell
Do the Holidays Feel Like Too Much? How Caregivers and Families Find Joy in the Season | Post
Do you feel like there’s just too much to do during the holiday season? If you’re caregiving, I’d be willing to bet that your stress levels are ramping on up there about now. It’s not that it’s not all good – the tree, … Continue reading
The Unlikely Caregiver: Black Sheep of the Family | Post
Life is funny. Sometimes the most rebellious of us, the teen gone bad, the unwed mother of three, the Harley brother in leather and bandanas and lots of tattoos becomes the best caregiver, the most thoughtful son–or daughter. Why? Sometimes those … Continue reading
Are You the Black Sheep Sibling? The Unlikely Caregiver? | Post
Life is funny. Sometimes the most rebellious of us, the teen gone bad, the unwed mother of three, the Harley brother in leather and bandanas and lots of tattoos who become the best caregiver, the most thoughtful son–or daughter. Why? … Continue reading
When Caregiving Takes Its Own Sweet Time, Pace Yourself for the Long Haul | Post
I have the privilege of meeting many, many caregivers–and some of them have been at this for a long, long time. Some caregivers are caring for both parents, some a spouse with a chronic disease, others, an adult child who … Continue reading
Why Does Alzheimer’s Effect People Differently? | Post
Alzheimer’s does different things to different people. I’ve heard some people say their spouse or parent got sweeter. “Not my mother,” I say in return, laughing (and almost crying at the same time) at some of the antics my mother … Continue reading
‘Don’t Leave Me Here Without You’ – Why Caring For a Spouse is So Difficult | Post
By Carol O’Dell – For many of us, caregiving for a spouse is in our future. We like to not think about it, or at least imagine that it’s a long, long time from now. For many, it’s a daily … Continue reading
Celebrating Mother’s Day When Mom’s Gone, Turn Bitter Into Sweet | Post
Mother’s Day can be bitter-sweet if your mom’s no longer here. It’s so hard to say the word, “dead,” and in many ways, our loved ones live on–in thoughts, in stories, in how they continue to impact our lives. For many, Mother’s … Continue reading
“Honey, Grandma Died”: Talking to Your Children About Tough Issues | Post
It’s so, so hard to have to tell your son or daughter that their grandfather, grandmother, or parent has died. We dread it so much that we avoid it, but this is a time when our children need us to … Continue reading
Are You Dreading the Death Date of a Loved One? | Post
No matter how much you try not to think about it, you dread the day your loved one died. It’s especially hard, those first couple of anniversaries. Perhaps you spent years caregiving and you’re dealing with the void in your … Continue reading
Does Caregiving Stress Your Marriage? Grow Closer in Your Caregiving Years | Post
Is caregiving hard on a marriage? It can be. But it can also be a wake-up call. Sometimes our marriage can be defined by what we’ve survived. Yes, caregiving was stressul on marriage–at times. I wrote in my book, Mothering … Continue reading
When Death Comes as a Shock… | Post
Actress Natasha Richardson died yesterday–from a head injury. She fell on the bunny slopes while skiing with her son in Canada. She was 45. Her death comes as a shock to her family. As hard as it is to be a caregiver and … Continue reading
How to Talk To Your Doctor: Getting What You Want and Need, for Caregivers and Families | Post
Most of us pine for the days when we had home town doc who delivered us, knows everything about us–and cared that we stay alive. Not that most ever had that–but it sure sounds good, doesn’t it? As a caregiver to … Continue reading
Creating Memorial Services with Heart | Post
By Carol O’Dell Creating a meaningful memorial service for your loved one is cathartic, and you don’t have to wait until your loved one passes to begin to think about what they — and you — want and need. It’s … Continue reading
Caregiver’s Support Group | Post
I have to admit that I didn’t attend a caregiver support group while I was caring for my mom. Not everyone is the “group” type. I started full time caregiving back in 1998 and honestly, I didn’t even know caregiving support … Continue reading
Creating Memorial Services with Heart, Part of the Caregiving Journey | Post
Creating a meaningful memorial service for your loved one is cathartic, and you don’t have to wait until your loved one passes to begin to think about what they–and you–want and need. It’s a part of caregiving you’d rather not thnk … Continue reading
Alzheimer’s and Violence, “I Don’t Want Anyone to Know How Bad It Is” | Post
Have you stopped having people come into your home because you don’t want them to see your dad/husband or wife “that way?” Are you hiding how awful it really is? Alzheimer’s, Lewy Body, dementia and other neurological based diseases affect … Continue reading
Move Over Michelle, Mama’s in the House: The Obamas Are a Multigenerational Family | Post
Move over, Michelle Obama, cause Mama’s in the house. That’s right, Michelle Obama’s mother is moving into the White House. Multigenerational families aren’t new, and now that the Obama family joins the rank, perhaps it will be considered a viable … Continue reading
Am I Holding Onto the Past? Why We Keep the Clothes of Those We Love | Post
I’ve had my Daddy’s suede jacket hanging in my closet since 1982, the year he died. I didn’t know I’d be a keeper, but I guess I am. It’s brick-red suede, and has completely worn through at the edge of the … Continue reading
New Year’s Resolutions for the Caregiver | Post
By Carol O’Dell — Continue reading
Is This Your Last Christmas Together? | Post
Do you feel this is the last Christmas with your spouse or parent? Maybe your loved one has just been placed in hospice–or maybe you just know. You have that feeling. Perhaps you or your loved one is facing a cancer … Continue reading
Caregivers and Happiness: An Oxymoron? | Post
Do caregivers struggle with the concept of happiness? People are about as happy as they make up their minds to be. ~Abraham Lincoln. I find it pretty amazing that this quote is attributed to Abraham Lincoln. He didn’t exactly have a … Continue reading
“I Can’t Believe I Just Said That”: How to Say the Right Thing to Someone Who is Ill or Experienced a Death | Post
A dear friend of mine has cancer is awaiting a double mastectomy. Her family and friends have all gathered and I see the love and connection she has surrounding her. There’s hugs and laughter and even a few tears. But we’re … Continue reading
Aging and Fear: Choose a Different Path | Post
As I was caregiving my mother, I couldn’t help but observe my mother’s words and actions. If you live with someone, talk and listen, you begin to notice patterns. The same old things get said day in and day out. We’re … Continue reading
Having That Difficult Conversation: How to Talk About Uncomfortable Issues | Post
What makes a good conversation? Two people who want to talk–and listen. Sometimes, they use words, but a conversation can consist of a glance, a the touch of a hand–it’s about connection. You can’t force it, and if you try too … Continue reading