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Rayna Neises, ACC, host, and Aly Neises, RN, cohost, reflect on last week’s conversation with Amy Rienow.  As the mom of seven, Amy’s experiences in raising her children and the things that she has learned in that role translate to those who are caregiving for a parent or loved one.  Additional insights shared:

• Stepping back to look at the bigger picture can help gain perspective and see when things that seem like boulders are just pebbles.  
• Adjust standards and find what works for you . . . When constantly driving to reach the ideal, there is no joy and no happiness.
• Ask the questions: “Are you happy?”; “Are you healthy?”; “Are they fed?”; “Are they loved?” . . . If you get yeses, then feel like you have done what you need to do.
• It is normal to feel guilty from time to time and recognizing what is causing the guilt allows you to move forward.
• We each bring different things to the person we are caring for, so it is important to have a team of different personalities.
• Be a teachable expert: 
  • Learn from others and your own mistakes 
  • Be bendable and flexible 
  • Be a sponge to absorb and learn what you can 
• You are doing great and realize that what you are doing is important.