My previous post was about a humorous moment. That fits well with many of the happy moments I so frequently post. I want to make clear that not everything that happens makes me happy. Last night was one of those times.
As we approached bedtime, I told Kate I was going to get ready for bed and that she might want to do the same. She went to her room and brought back two robes and a night gown. Then she proceeded to get in bed fully dressed. I suggested that she go ahead and change out of the clothes she was wearing. She got out of bed, but she looked confused. She asked what I wanted her to do. I told her specifically to take off the clothes she was wearing and put on the night gown that she had placed on the bed. I left her to take a shower. In a few minutes she came to the shower door. She hadn’t changed at all. She asked, “What should I do now?” She had completely forgotten what I had told her. That was not surprising. It more surprising that she was unable to figure out what to do at all. I told her again to take off her clothes and put on her night gown. The good news is that she followed my instruction.
I feel sad when she finds ordinary tasks so challenging. For me, that is clearly the hardest part of being her caregiver, not the frustrations, not the stress, but watching her gradually lose her ability to do one thing after another. While I take comfort in the fact that we are still able to enjoy so many things, I find myself wishing we could avoid the changes that may soon be coming our way.
