I put my husband in memory care last week and I left there feeling a little sad for him because of who I know he used to be. I saw a spark of his old personality and that made me consider the past 6 years I have been taking care of him in relation also to how long I’ve been raising children and it all made me feel grateful for the chance to take care of and love the people I have in my life.
They No Longer Living Here
…
It takes a lifetime raising children
Infant babe to driving teens
All the feeding, and the bleeding
Knees and hearts and hopes and dreams
…
It takes a lifeline helping old ones
through stages in senility
Never sure just how to do it
Stumbling through the years it seems
…
Raising caring loving praying
Over those you know are growing
Difficulties they are knowing
On them all your heart bestowing
…
The lives you touch when helping those
Who need a lift to help them through
Doesn’t matter young or old
It only matters that you do
…
But in the end you’re left a room
At the table, empty chair
The nest swept clean; so what’s it mean
That they’re no longer living there
…
~Julie Robinson