Tag: parenting
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Taking my six-year-old to see his grandfather
I took my six-year-old to visit his grandfather in a care home. I was afraid it would upset him, afraid of the changes, the reality of dementia. Instead, he met his Opa with calm curiosity, kindness, and resilience, reminding me that children see what is, not what’s lost.
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December and dementia
December is a month of contradictions: carols and care homes, twinkling lights and quiet grief. I juggle school concerts with visits to my dad, whose dementia means Christmas can’t be shared. This is December for the sandwich generation – holding joy in one hand, loss in the other.
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How to talk to your children about dementia
When someone you love has dementia, explaining it to your children can feel daunting. There’s no perfect way to do it — every family finds their own words. This is my experience of helping my children, who were very young when my dad was first diagnosed.
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Birthdays & guilt
I reflect on feelings of guilt and inadequacy surrounding my father’s recent birthday celebration in a care home. I compare this guilt to “mum guilt” and discuss the pressures of balancing family, work, and self-care. Despite the weight of these emotions, I seek positivity and self-compassion in navigating dementia.
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The sandwich generation: between young children and a father with dementia
I reflect on my father’s dementia, how it happened gradually and then suddenly. This is a post I wrote about a year ago, when he was still living at home and my son hadn’t started school yet. I felt trapped between caring responsibilities for my children and father.
dementia in the family 