I spend most of my time with my mom. I am her caregiver and I live with her. I have been her caregiver for the past 5 years and had my dad also up until November 2022. I work two days a week so I can try to gain some income and at the same time have time for myself. My mom cannot be by herself so when I am at work, so I have a caregiver here to stay with her. It is difficult because I would like to be able to work more hours but am unable to afford a caregiver to be here any more than we already do. My time with my mom begins between 7 am and 7:30 am so I am up at least before 6am so I can get myself together prior to her waking up. She will usually take a mid-afternoon nap between 2 pm and 4 pm and she will usually go to bed between 9 pm and 10 pm depending on how she’s feeling it can be a little earlier.
I have learned how to categorize my time and use my multi-tasking skills between watching her where she is always (she is wheelchair bound), meal preparation, being a nurse and/or Dr, house chores, trying to work from home, putting in a workout, etc. My constant thought is that my only contact with the outside world is when my Lyft driver/friend who picks me up to take me to and from work (I am partially blind and unable to drive), when I get my nails done once a month, Dr’s appt’s, and run errands. These events are like field trips to me!
Since I spend so much time at home, I am not used to being out and socializing with others. It is a concept that I struggle with because I am so comfortable being alone and the thought of meeting new people makes me feel uncomfortable. My world has always been about my parents. After my dad passed, well my focus became primarily on my mom. A friend asked me recently what I was going to do when my mom is no longer here. The question stopped me in my tracks, and I think I may have had an expression on my face like a deer in headlights. I honestly could not answer that question. When that time comes, hopefully, I will have a clear answer.
The World of Dlo 
Hi, this is a commendable thing you do taking care of your mother. Seems like you are giving a lot of yourself. I hope you eventually are able to have your load lightened. I work a 9 to 5 job but wish I could work from home due to chronic pain. I have to admit that my pain level has decrease since I have had 2 hip replacement surgeries but I still deal with knees and back pain but have to work because I am a single mother. I think God that my children are now grown up, but they are not able to take care of me at this time and I don’t want to have to . So I go to work most days in pain but I bare it and am working toward starting my own business to be able to work from home. I will pray for you.
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