Of course, I was just a latchkey kid when I originally started babysitting. Like most kids in my generation, both parents contributed to our household income. My mom worked in the fancy world of retail, where the hours hardly coincided with my school schedule, and my dad traveled for work. It was not uncommon not to see him until the weekend or for months at a time. 

When I was in grammar school, my best friend and I would watch my sister  with a lot of help from my best friend’s older cousin, who babysat us all. lol! But I always felt responsible for my sister. Although my sister was a sweet and easy-going child, she occasionally hit her head on the floor or struck her head with her fist. We didn’t know much about noises or triggers back then. It was frightening, but we’d all do our best to make sure she didn’t hurt herself. She was so precious. 

Wherever your caregiving story begins, most of us are initially overwhelmed as we try to figure everything out on our own. There is no self-help book with directions on exactly what to do or how to prepare for the unexpected because all of our loved ones are different. We simply do the best we know how, picking up cues from special education educators and medical doctors, but learning most of it by trial and error. At least my family did. 

As an adult still assisting (even on a mental level) with the care for my sister, in the 21st century, I know that caregivers can do better than winging it. We don’t have to go it alone or scroll for random information and hope it works. Instead, we can connect with real people and find honest support inside and outside of our group settings.

That’s why I wanted to advocate for caregivers, and that’s why I’ve created a new page on my website. It’s called Start Here for Family Caregivers

Whether you’re new to caregiving or have been doing it for years, this page brings together important resources, support, and next steps in one place.

On the page you’ll find:

✔ The Isolation Check
✔ Ways to Connect with Community
✔ Resources from Beating the Isolation Trap
✔ Support options for caregivers

So, please do me one favor:

If this page reminds you of someone—a friend, sibling, spouse, adult child, neighbor, or any other type of caregiver—please share this webpage with them.

Start Here For Family Caregivers

Many caregivers don’t realize how isolated they’ve become until someone brings it to their attention. Hopefully that person is gentle and loving. This community works to give the kind of caregiver support they need before they reach a breaking point.

Thank you for sharing. Really,

Leah