We caregivers are a crazy bunch!
We are committed to take on the 24/7/365 role of caregiving.
We need to be committed to a psychiatric facility or a nursing home. Maybe we’ll get much-needed rest.
One of the keys to survive, thrive, and even find the joy is through laughter.
Caregiver Humor? Uh-ohhh.
While caregiver humor is unique to the tasks and the toils of caregiving, it doesn’t always translate nicely to the mainstream. Public sharing often results in judgment and Adult Protective Services knocking at the door. It’s happened!
After all, how do you convey safe fun with a 2 x 4?
The Proverbial 2″ x 4″
While I attended support group to learn more about caring for my father with Alzheimer’s, I shared details of a particularly stressful weekend. As I finished lamenting my woes, I grimaced and made a strangling gesture.
The dozen or so attending family caregivers, laughed. They understood.
I added, “Or a 2 x 4!”
We laughed again to release the tension.
For the next few weeks, we referred to our stressful weeks as needing The Proverbial 2″ x 4″ in name only.
Unknown to the rest of us, two caregivers were making one. They brought it to support group.
Each week, we awarded The Proverbial 2″ x 4″ to the caregiver who had the worst week. During the week, when stress levels rose, seeing it, helped caregivers smile and even laugh. It helped to calm some, knowing we were together in spirit.
It wasn’t until weeks later, one of the caregivers confessed to almost using it. After that, The Proverbial 2″ x 4″ never left the building. Once more, it was awarded in name only.
Read about three caregivers’ experiences here: Caregiver Humor – The Proverbial 2 x 4
Generic and Safe Caregiver Humor
We’re often stuck with safe generic humor such this from DailyCaring’s Pinterest page.
Or exhausted self-negligence in the following (paraphrased) from CareZare’s Caregiving Humor page on Pinterest:
Arguing with Mom for a half-hour to wear matching socks only to discover I went shopping with my shirt inside out.
I’ve discovered this when I took a selfie while hiking in the forest. SIGH.
Of course, there are the memorable moments such as all those men in Mom’s bedroom from AgingCare.com https://pin.it/6zngnUk.
Or the sad reality among many, who desperately need a caregiver respite:
I like to spend my days off
luxuriating with a good book.
Oh wait, I have no days off.
I’m a caregiver.
Caregiver Self-Care
When all is said and done, remember this version of self-care from Brittin Oakman’s 2017 poem, Anxiety Doesn’t Knock First:
