When the Support Matters...

🦌 With ears twitching and eyes wide, the deer detects danger in a heartbeat.

🐿 Nervous but quick, the squirrel’s constant vigilance keeps it one step ahead.

🦌 Swift and ever watchful, the antelope senses danger long before it strikes!

Yes, it’s all here too. I am confident about these earned senses I have ,over the last 10 years. While no two days are identical, they often appear similar - constantly looking out for unknowns to deal with.

No choice, but to deal with them!

Every day has its ups and downs. The dependencies are massive. The uncertainties are huge. Every sunrise brings out a new me - not always positive, not always negative. The day can turn in any direction in just minutes(seconds, to be honest). There is no plan but yes hell a lot of background preparation is in place! Backup they call it.

This is a reflection of what I have become over the years after falling multiple times and getting up again for another damn setback. There is no 9 to 6 paid job. There is no standard homemaker role. There are no “Ah, thank god it’s a weekend” moments. There is a mix of everything you can think of under the sun. If I have to update my resume today, guess my powers will be “sleeping with one eye open” and “predicting chaos before it happens”!

I don’t want to totally portray “caregiving” as a constant struggle. It does have many rewarding aspects associated with it too. It does have its joy and fulfillment in its way. It has taught me toughness, patience (little more than the zero I had earlier), and a heightened sense of awareness. It has sharpened my ability to assess situations and make decisions under pressure. The years have developed empathy in me, making me more aligned with the needs of others! Yes, the best thing ever happened to me out of all this is understanding this word- “empathy“.

Some days will be the role of teacher, guardian, helper, friend, analytical expert, cleaner, cook, driver, caretaker, dragon, nurse, therapist, bodyguard,host etc. It’s exhausting, juggling too many roles and still feeling like something's missing. But amidst all the chaos, there’s that small ray of hope that keeps one going, a belief that stability is just around the corner. Even when it feels incomplete, you hang on, knowing that some peace will eventually come your way.

Takeaway - The caregivers’ fatigue is for real, particularly in emergency or life-threatening situations. The constant demands can leave you feeling wiped out, and it can be pretty lonely when others don't get what you are going through. The emotional toll of witnessing suffering day after day can lead to anxiety, guilt, and even a loss of identity as they devote themselves entirely to someone else's well-being!

The "taker" will find their way eventually, but I hope the "caregiver" still will have the strength to hold on until then! Here, the support system matters. A LOT. An army of genuinely understanding people are a boon for that one critical caregiver facing the full-on brunt. It matters.