Taking Care of Mom, Taking Care of Me

Download or read book Taking Care of Mom, Taking Care of Me written by Sima Devorah Schloss and published by . This book was released on 2002 with total page 184 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Sima Schloss, an observant Jew, talks about the choices a caregiver makes, and the resulting stress that ensues, in caring for an aging parent or relative, in this case, her ninety-plus years old grandmother (whom she affectionately called Mom), who is in declining health. In Sima's own words, "As a Jew, I know that I am commanded to perform acts of loving-kindness, including visiting the sick. I tried my best to be attentive to my loved ones as they endured sickness and faced death. In the beginning of the five years, I tried so hard that I lost myself in the process. I was so addicted to taking care of other people, I forgot to take care of myself. Then I founded Codependents Anonymous (CoDA), a self-help organization that uses meetings and the twelve steps of recovery to build healthier lives. I used the steps to forge a healthy balance between kindness to others and kindness to myself"--from chapter one.