You're My Favorite

In this episode, we're talking about the art of meeting someone where they are especially when dementia changes how your loved one sees, understands, or remembers the world. We get into the instinct to correct everything, learning when to redirect instead, and how to respond to the feelings behind the words rather than getting caught up in the facts.

We're also talking about the harder side of it: adjusting our expectations, grieving the conversations that look different now, and reminding ourselves that patience is a work in progress (because we're human, not saints!).

How do you let go of needing someone to understand your reality and instead meet them in theirs? We're sharing what we've learned with Mom, the things we're still figuring out, and why sometimes connection matters more than correction.

Because at the end of the day, we're all just trying to show up with a little more patience, compassion, and love even on the days when we have to remind ourselves to do the same. 💛

If you're interested in learning more about the Parkinson's walk, you can find our team page here: https://secure.parkinson.org/site/TR?pg=team&fr_id=7916&team_id=98121 

What happens when you love your family deeply, but also want to build a life somewhere else? In this episode, we’re talking about the complicated feeling of being somewhat stuck in Arizona because of caregiving — wanting to move, experience a different city, and live our best lives, while also knowing that Mom’s care has to factor into those decisions.

Technically, we could move Mom with us… but when you start thinking about the logistics, cost, healthcare, finding a new care home, and uprooting everything she knows, it suddenly becomes a much bigger decision. We talk about the cost-benefit of making a move, the guilt that comes with even wanting to leave, and the frustrating feeling that our own lives are on pause while we navigate this chapter.

Because caregiving isn't always about what you can't do. Sometimes it's about all the things you want to do but aren't sure when, or if you'll be able to. We're getting real about ambition, independence, family responsibility, and figuring out how to make room for our own lives while still showing up for Mom.

We're back! In this episode we talk about recent trips, upcoming plans, and give our listeners an update on mom. While we were away from the pod, we did some personal travel which obviously led us to caregiver guilt. Classic! We also took our mom to the neuro, and the results surprised us. Lastly, we have a lot to look forward to in the coming weeks. Including Lexi finishing off a crochet project. Skip ahead 20 minutes if you want to move past the crochet talk. 

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Caregiving has a way of making us focus on everything we haven't done, every mistake we've made, and all the ways we think we could be doing more. In this episode, we're challenging that mindset and taking a moment to acknowledge the things we're doing well.

We talk about why it's so easy for caregivers to be hard on themselves, how guilt can overshadow progress, and the importance of recognizing the countless ways we show up for the people we love. We're reflecting on the moments that deserve more credit than we usually give them.

This conversation is a reminder, to ourselves and to anyone listening, that caregiving isn't about being perfect. It's about showing up, doing your best, and giving yourself the same compassion you so freely give to others. If you've been carrying guilt, doubt, or the feeling that you're never doing enough, this episode is for you.

In this episode, we're talking about one of the most persistent parts of caregiving: guilt.

Even though our mom now lives in a care home and we're no longer responsible for her day-to-day care, the guilt hasn't simply disappeared. In many ways, it's evolved. We explore the stress, anxiety, and emotional weight that continue to show up, along with the feeling that we should be doing more, visiting more, helping more, or somehow handling everything better.

We also reflect on how some of these feelings may be connected to our experience caring for our dad and the unresolved guilt that can linger long after a caregiving chapter ends. From questioning past decisions to carrying responsibility that was never ours to begin with, we're having an honest conversation about the emotional baggage many caregivers carry.

If you've ever felt guilty despite doing your best, this episode is for you. Together, we're exploring what it means to give ourselves grace, acknowledge our limits, and recognize that guilt isn't always a measure of how much we care.

In this episode, we’re sharing the advice and resources we wish we had known about sooner. From navigating placement options and understanding levels of care, to finding mental health support and learning that we didn’t have to do everything alone.

We talk about the emotional toll of figuring things out in real time, the trial-and-error of caregiving, and the tools that have genuinely helped us along the way. This conversation is part reflection, part resource-sharing, and part reassurance for anyone feeling overwhelmed or underprepared.

Whether you’re new to caregiving or deep in it already, we hope this episode helps you feel a little more supported, informed, and less alone in the process.

Parkinson’s Disease is often misunderstood, and honestly before our mom’s diagnosis, we misunderstood it too. Actually, we still misunderstand it! Just listen to Lexi fail the mini quiz. 

In this episode, we’re breaking down some of the most common misconceptions about Parkinson’s and sharing what the reality has looked like in our own experience.

From the idea that it’s “just tremors,” to assumptions about age, progression, and treatment, we talk through what people (including us!) often get wrong and what we’ve learned along the way.

Whether you’re navigating Parkinson’s yourself, caring for someone who is, or simply want to better understand, this episode is for you.

In this episode, we talk about the moment we realized we’ve slowly started becoming the parent to our parents. From managing appointments and finances to making big life decisions, we discuss what that role reversal really feels like and how emotionally complicated it can be.

We start the episode with about 15 minutes of honest life updates, venting, and a bit of a spiral city about life in general, because sometimes that’s just where we’re at, and we know we’re not the only ones feeling that way.

This conversation is about growing up in ways we didn’t expect, navigating responsibility, and processing the strange, sad, and sometimes even funny moments that come with realizing the roles have changed.

Caregiving and grief often come with a wide range of emotions, sometimes all in the same day. In this episode, we open up about the emotional highs and lows that come with this journey and how we’re learning to sit with the complexity of it all.

With our dad’s birthday coming up this week, we also share memories of him and reflect on how meaningful dates can bring grief, love, and remembrance together. It’s an honest conversation about honoring the people we’ve lost while continuing to move forward.

 This week, we’re sharing some of our favorite memories. The funny, the tender, and the ones that instantly bring our loved ones to life. Caregiving can be heavy, so this episode is about remembering the personality, joy, and love that exist alongside the hard parts. Think of it as a little story time, caregiver edition.