Just enjoy the alone time. Nothing that I would have to do for somebody else. Peace and quiet would do it for me. Maybe sitting on a friend's deck and watching the sailboats while getting a little bit of sun while having a beer, or something more exotic but I wouldn't know what that would be.
The science workshop was great...my brain actually functioned most of the time and I learned something.
Mom was fine in the AM and my sister came and had lunch with her and stayed about 4 hours. Mom was alone for about 2 more while my husband came and got me. But it was a great day! All quiet now!
I would have a decent soak in the bath for at least an hour, read a book, meet some dear friends for lunch, file my nails, go to the mall and buy myself one beautiful colorful piece of clothing, and have a big banana milkshake without interruption, then come home for a nap! Sigh, writing this makes me so sad as it seems like it can never happen again ...
On Saturday I am going to a Science Workshop hosted by NOAA in Boston (Boy I am such a science geek that I signed up for a workshop and that is a "day off" from caregiving!)
im working extremely hard right now because im going to take a few days in the summer to go see my grandkids in chicago . gonna take the trike and all secondary roads . the rides up and back should be as relaxing as the small vacation itself .
When I was the main care provider for dad the only regular break I would have would be while working my full time job. All the other hours in the day was filled taking care of dad. I would had loved being able to take a day trip but better yet - a full night sleep.
Senior care is not cheap but I finally got my dad to agree to a couple of days help when I became burnt out. He really connected with the helper and really looked forward to her visits. I wished I could had hire her to help regularly because dad's money was well spent on him.
If I had a day to myself and unlimited funds, first I would get on an airplane and go see my grandchildren and stay 6 weeks. When I got back I would knit, do crossword puzzles, I would eat ice cream and hamburgers, no veggies. I would sleep and sleep. Not answer the phone and only talk to my dh. I would go for a hike and look for pretty rocks. While I was gone the housecleaner team would clean my house, wash the clothes and change the sheets. For lunch I would go to a nice place then at dinner I would go to another nice place. The next day someone would come in and make the meals. All the while I would still be doing my puzzles, knitting, and reading. I would visit with my friends at nice restaurants. Someone would wash the car too.
Calicokat. I hear you on the housework and people "undoing" it! Drives me nuts! It gets to the point "why bother!!" I love to sew to but have given up my sewing room at my house since both my daughters and their sons moved home. Oh well...
First off, I would turn off the alarm and sleep in until I jolly well felt like getting up ;0) Then take myself out to lunch at my favorite place with a couple of dumb magazines about movie star gossip. In this fantasy, my family is gone from the house, so then I would come home and sew the rest of the day or read, crank up the radio and dance & sing, maybe even do a little housework since no one would be there to "undo" it, LOL Great question. It'll never happen, but it's fun to fanaticize about ;0)
I have looked into the cost of respite care for a day or two, but now I haven't gone any farther because I don't know what to do to fill the time. There are so many people I should see and errands I should run, but if I fill my time away with that I might as well stay in the trenches. The day at the beach sounds nice, maybe in July or August ???
I would nestle in my bed, reading a good mystery, sipping tea, and doing whatever popped into my head. I would speak only to my lover, no one else's problems or mistakes, or excuses would i deal with. Maybe go see the new Barnes Museum, see the new cezanne sketches. Eat duck pot pie at the Good Dog Cafe. Oh heaven to have a day to myself. Of course chocolate cake would figure somewhere in the day.
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Mom was fine in the AM and my sister came and had lunch with her and stayed about 4 hours. Mom was alone for about 2 more while my husband came and got me. But it was a great day! All quiet now!
Senior care is not cheap but I finally got my dad to agree to a couple of days help when I became burnt out. He really connected with the helper and really looked forward to her visits. I wished I could had hire her to help regularly because dad's money was well spent on him.
Then take myself out to lunch at my favorite place with a couple of dumb magazines about movie star gossip.
In this fantasy, my family is gone from the house, so then I would come home and sew the rest of the day or read, crank up the radio and dance & sing, maybe even do a little housework since no one would be there to "undo" it, LOL
Great question. It'll never happen, but it's fun to fanaticize about ;0)