Unlocking the Silent Prison

I wanted to share an excellent article called Unlocking the Silent Prison about alternate methods of communicating with dementia patients.

Ohio State University's Michelle Bourgeois suggests that, in addition to communicating verbally, we try writing down important messages so the confused dementia patient can read them (instead of the caregiver having to repeat things over and over.)

She also suggests making a photo album of important family members ("then and now") and labeling them.  This helps the dementia patient understand that the "stranger" they see really is their little baby girl.

I think I'm going to try this with my mom, as she is having a difficult time understanding why she needs to be repeatedly cleaned up by her caregivers.

Alternate ways of communicating with challenging family members, for example, teaching pre-verbal children sign language, can be a breakthrough and a great help to caregivers.

Unlocking the Silent Prison

I wanted to share an excellent article called Unlocking the Silent Prison about alternate methods of communicating with dementia patients.

Ohio State University's Michelle Bourgeois suggests that, in addition to communicating verbally, we try writing down important messages so the confused dementia patient can read them (instead of the caregiver having to repeat things over and over.)

She also suggests making a photo album of important family members ("then and now") and labeling them.  This helps the dementia patient understand that the "stranger" they see really is their little baby girl.

I think I'm going to try this with my mom, as she is having a difficult time understanding why she needs to be repeatedly cleaned up by her caregivers.

Alternate ways of communicating with challenging family members, for example, teaching pre-verbal children sign language, can be a breakthrough and a great help to caregivers.

On the shortness of life

Today would have been my dad's 80th birthday. He died when he was 57. So much has changed since then in so many ways. It is amazing how people live on, isn't it? It is hard for the human mind to wrap itself around the fact that life indeed does go on after we depart from this world.

It makes me think, too, about what is really important. What did Jesus really come to teach? Partisanship? Judgmentalism? Power grabbing?

Or, radical love for EVERYONE?

Life is short. Put away your swords. Get out the love.

On the shortness of life

Today would have been my dad's 80th birthday. He died when he was 57. So much has changed since then in so many ways. It is amazing how people live on, isn't it? It is hard for the human mind to wrap itself around the fact that life indeed does go on after we depart from this world.

It makes me think, too, about what is really important. What did Jesus really come to teach? Partisanship? Judgmentalism? Power grabbing?

Or, radical love for EVERYONE?

Life is short. Put away your swords. Get out the love.

Easter Nostalgia

Things that used to be part of Easter that I just don't see anymore:

1) Women wearing Easter hats
2) Women getting Easter corsages
3) People buying new clothes for Easter
4) People dressing up for Easter
4) A crowded Easter Vigil Mass

In my circle of experience, none of this occurs anymore and, it makes me a bit sad.

As a child, my mom would get us new Easter dresses, complete with hats, gloves and patten leather shoes, every Easter, to be worn to church for the rest of the year.

Husbands would buy their wives corsages to wear on Easter morning.  The world would explode in a rebirth of color.  Easter was truly something special in the wider culture.

Easter Nostalgia

Things that used to be part of Easter that I just don't see anymore:

1) Women wearing Easter hats
2) Women getting Easter corsages
3) People buying new clothes for Easter
4) People dressing up for Easter
4) A crowded Easter Vigil Mass

In my circle of experience, none of this occurs anymore and, it makes me a bit sad.

As a child, my mom would get us new Easter dresses, complete with hats, gloves and patten leather shoes, every Easter, to be worn to church for the rest of the year.

Husbands would buy their wives corsages to wear on Easter morning.  The world would explode in a rebirth of color.  Easter was truly something special in the wider culture.

Congratulations!

My cousin had her 4th baby yesterday! William Jeffrey weighed in at 11 lbs. 3oz and was delivered without the aid of medication. (I can hear your gasp from here!)

He joins his 2 sisters and brother in a wonderful family.

Congratulations!

My cousin had her 4th baby yesterday! William Jeffrey weighed in at 11 lbs. 3oz and was delivered without the aid of medication. (I can hear your gasp from here!)

He joins his 2 sisters and brother in a wonderful family.

Happy Birthday!!!

Tomorrow is my mom and aunt's 83rd birthday. They were born March 10, 1927, the 3rd and 4th of 7 children; 2 boys and 5 girls. They both live in an assisted living facility in the community they grew up in.

We are blessed to have them with us.

Happy Birthday!!!

Tomorrow is my mom and aunt's 83rd birthday. They were born March 10, 1927, the 3rd and 4th of 7 children; 2 boys and 5 girls. They both live in an assisted living facility in the community they grew up in.

We are blessed to have them with us.

From Wedding Dress to Baptismal Gown

Twenty-five years ago, my sister made my wedding dress.  She has now made a beautiful baptismal gown for her granddaughter from it.  The original train was left in tact.

From Wedding Dress to Baptismal Gown

Twenty-five years ago, my sister made my wedding dress.  She has now made a beautiful baptismal gown for her granddaughter from it.  The original train was left in tact.

October 3, 1959

Fifty years ago, my parents got married in a beautifully traditional Catholic church in Catonsville, Maryland.

I'm sure my father is smiling from Heaven and waiting until the day when he and my mom can be reunited forever.

October 3, 1959

Fifty years ago, my parents got married in a beautifully traditional Catholic church in Catonsville, Maryland.

I'm sure my father is smiling from Heaven and waiting until the day when he and my mom can be reunited forever.

Happy 82nd Birthday!

Today is my mom's 82nd Birthday. She and my aunt were born on the 10th of March in 1927. The third and fourth of seven children, they had three other sisters and two brothers. They were members of their high school class of 1945. My aunt was a telephone operator for 35 years and my mom worked for the president of 7up Bottling Company before marrying my dad in 1959.

Happy Birthday!!!!!

Happy 82nd Birthday!

Today is my mom's 82nd Birthday. She and my aunt were born on the 10th of March in 1927. The third and fourth of seven children, they had three other sisters and two brothers. They were members of their high school class of 1945. My aunt was a telephone operator for 35 years and my mom worked for the president of 7up Bottling Company before marrying my dad in 1959.

Happy Birthday!!!!!

Happy Birthday, Rebecca!

My niece is 23 years old today. I remember my sister taking long walks around her neighborhood to try to bring on labor. It worked.

My sister changed her mind on a name after my niece was born. She went from Emily Rebecca pre-natally to Rebecca Noel. I kept calling her Emily by mistake.

At 23, she's been out of college, working and living on her own for a year, and plans to go to law school.

We're proud of you, Rebecca!

Happy Birthday, Rebecca!

My niece is 23 years old today. I remember my sister taking long walks around her neighborhood to try to bring on labor. It worked.

My sister changed her mind on a name after my niece was born. She went from Emily Rebecca pre-natally to Rebecca Noel. I kept calling her Emily by mistake.

At 23, she's been out of college, working and living on her own for a year, and plans to go to law school.

We're proud of you, Rebecca!

Regrets....I have a few....

My son (now 20) was a fussy baby. I tried blankets, toys, my own clothes...anything that might help him learn to settle down on his own.

The only thing that ever seemed to get his attention at all, was this wind up, plush pig that my friend had. It made an oink noise and moved around. My son was mesmerized by it. I should have run right out and bought it, but I never did.

To this day, EVERY TIME I pass by the toy store in the mall,I regret not having gotten him one. There is always one of these pigs right up front, making its oinking noise at me, saying, "You should have bought me!!"

Mommy guilt just doesn't go away, does it? :O

Regrets....I have a few....

My son (now 20) was a fussy baby. I tried blankets, toys, my own clothes...anything that might help him learn to settle down on his own.

The only thing that ever seemed to get his attention at all, was this wind up, plush pig that my friend had. It made an oink noise and moved around. My son was mesmerized by it. I should have run right out and bought it, but I never did.

To this day, EVERY TIME I pass by the toy store in the mall,I regret not having gotten him one. There is always one of these pigs right up front, making its oinking noise at me, saying, "You should have bought me!!"

Mommy guilt just doesn't go away, does it? :O