Growing up as a military brat, Michele Houck has experienced numerous moves across the country, forming a tight-knit family tribe wherever they went. From being a barrel racer to a beauty queen, she has embraced life's challenges and reinvented herself multiple times. Michele's caregiving journey began at 16 when her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Since then, she has been the primary caregiver for various family members, including her sister, father, and niece. Michele's life experiences have instilled in her the importance of family values and relationships, making her the perfect guest for today's episode.

As a young caregiver, Michele had to navigate the complex emotions of wanting her mother while providing care and support. In the quiet, intimate moments of caregiving, Michele found joy and happiness with her mother, a lesson she would carry throughout her life. Her story highlights the importance of family values and relationships as the foundation for caregiving and how these connections can be a source of strength and resilience in the face of adversity. With warmth and compassion, Michele's journey shows that love and support can make all the difference, even in the darkest hours.

In this episode, you will be able to:

• Reinforce your caregiving base with deep insights into the role of family values and relationships.
• Decode the complex world of caregiving dynamics to enhance your relationships and support network.
• Find balance in managing expectations and acknowledging constraints in various caregiving situations.
• Develop a resilient mindset and harvest personal growth from the enriching caregiving experience.
• Investigate the double-edged sword of technology on the aspects of connection and disconnection in caregiving and society.

About Michele:

Michele Houck is a 25-year Marketing and Advertising veteran.  She’s a marketer who loves disrupting startups like Heart Start, Vonage, and Invisalign, household names like Intel and P&G, and innovative health & wellness solutions with WebMD.  She has a proven track record of success with global, entrepreneurial, and local brands that engage government, B2C, and B2B audiences. 

She is a curious-minded goofball who has been a military brat, a band geek, a barrel racer, a beauty queen, a bartender, a bouncer, a floral arranger, and a mountain climber. She is a very proud Aunt.

She started her caregiver roles at 16 with her mother's first breast cancer diagnosis in 1984. Over the last 5 years, she's been the primary caregiver for her mother, her sister, her special needs sister, AND her father, all of who passed due to different cancers. 

Connect with Michele:

Website
Twitter
Instagram

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Confessions of a Reluctant Caregiver

Sisterhood of Care, LLC

Website: www.confessionsofareluctantcaregiver.com

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