"Motherhood is a choice you make every day, to put someone else's happiness and well-being ahead of your own, to teach the hard lessons, to do the right thing even when you're not sure what the right thing is...and to forgive yourself, over and over again, for doing everything wrong." - Donna Ball
As Mother's Day approaches, it's a time to reflect on the importance of the maternal figures in our lives – whether they are our biological mothers or mother figures who’ve helped shape us into the people we are. For those of us with aging mothers, Mother’s Day can also bring up a sense of urgency to appreciate them while we still have them.
In addition to gifts and family gatherings to celebrate Mother's Day, here are some ways to help our mothers maintain a sense of dignity and purpose throughout the year:
Aging can be a difficult process for anyone, but for mothers, it can be especially challenging. As they age, they may experience health problems, loss of independence, and changes in their relationships with family and friends. Supporting our mothers through these changes is a powerful way to show them that we love and appreciate them and want them to be happy.
One of the biggest challenges for aging mothers is maintaining their independence. Many elderly women live alone – perhaps as widows - and may struggle with tasks that were once routine, like cooking, cleaning, and running errands. We can offer to help or arrange for home care services to see to these tasks. What’s important is to listen to our mothers' wishes and respect their desire for independence, while also ensuring their safety and well-being.
Another challenge for aging mothers is staying connected with loved ones. As adults, it’s very likely that we’ve moved away from our childhood homes to start our own families, making it harder to stay in touch with our mothers. But staying connected and spending time with our mother figures is so vital to their wellbeing (and ours!). Whether that means calling them regularly, visiting them in person, or arranging for a companion to visit, take them on outings or show them how to use their mobile phones, these small acts will go a long way in helping our mothers feel loved and appreciated.
Finally, it's important to recognise the unique contributions that our aging mothers have made to our lives. As they age, they may feel like they are no longer useful or relevant. They may feel frustrated that they aren’t physically as capable as they once were. They may feel lonely, isolated, or forgotten. Or in some cases, we may have a mother who’s living with Dementia, and while they are the same person, the disease has left them disconnected from their close family and friends.
Regardless of your unique circumstances, our mothers have played a pivotal role in our lives, often sacrificing for us, and loving us more than we know.
As we approach Mother's Day, let's take the time to appreciate our aging mothers and support them through the challenges of growing older. Whether it's helping them maintain their independence, staying connected, expressing our gratitude for all they have done for us or enlisting the help of the CareCompany to be there for them when you can’t be, let's make sure they know how much they are loved and valued today and every day. Call on us for support – we are here for you.
