As we wait for our special guest, the Retrobots get to cue up a holiday song for the upcoming days leading into Easter. Gene Autry, the original singer who made Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer famous, tries to do the same with the tune, Easter Morning. Once all the lead in to the interview is out of the way, we get our guest Kris on the phone line. She has a story to tell about the life of a caregiver for her elderly mother. It has its dark side that people need to be aware of before they take the plunge, and decide to take on that noble challenge.

In a casual manner, we work through these questions. I know it’s far from being all the facts a person should consider, but Kris tells it from her own experience.

* Tell me a bout the decision to take care of your mom. Any particularly dire moments? What about blessings that have come through your ordeal?

* What are a few things you wish you knew when you went into being a care giver that you know know. How would you have done things differently?

* I know you’ve learned things about yourself in your care giving. What are some of the personality traits that have strengthened, or skills you’ve had to learn?

* What advice would you have for someone who is facing being a caregiver, or who is going through it?

Listen to the interview to learn how important it is to plan for the long haul in making a hard decision like this. Support groups are essential, with people who can offer a little help to take time off once in a while, or even from a distance by writing cards and letters. Some of the topics of our previous episode about Worst Day Ever applies. In the midst of the difficulties, a measure of forgiveness is needed, as well as helping others in the same boat, being sure others are taken care of, telling others about your needs, knowing there’s a higher purpose to the hardships involved.

Sometimes it feels like there are more dark days than blessings. While you’re in the middle of it, there’s so much that doesn’t make sense. Nobody may have the answers to all the questions all the time, but in sharing the problems and victories, it just might help others who are going through the same thing. And that’s why I had Kris come on the podcast.

If her words helped you in some way, or you want to send a few encouraging words back to her, she wants to remain anonymous, but if you send your message to us, we’ll be sure to forward it along to her.