I was going thru some things and found this and thought it was worth printing again.
I need you Do not ask me to remember, Do not try to make me understand, Let me rest and know you're with me, Kiss my cheek and hold my hand, I'm confused beyond your concept, I am sad and sick and lost. All I know is that i need you, to be with me at all cost, Do not lose your patience with me, Do not scold or curse or cry. I can't help the way I'm acting, Can't be different, Though I try. Just remember that I need you, that the best of me is gone, Please don't fail to stand beside me!! Love me till my life is done.
Yes this is worth repeating...because as hard as we try to live up to this we fail at times. And as this miserable disease progresses we seem to fail at it more and more especially when our LO LOOKS good and sounds good but we know they are not and others who don't see them often think WE are nuts or over reacting.
Oh Vickie, what a good idea. I might just do the same. I wrote a poem about caregivers (I posted it here) & I thought I'd read that at my DH's memorial service, now I think I'll read both! Thanks for the idea.
Carolyn, thanks for reposting...I too will use this at dH's memorial service. But I am also thinking of including it in our Christmas cards this year to friends/family who have abandoned us. Might give them something to think about and touch their black hearts.
I just printed your poem. Lovely. Tonight my 4 grandkids come over for the night. Ages 12,10, and twin boys 7years old. I am rehearsing a talk I am going to have with them about their pappap. The 10 year old had a friend over at our house last weekend. He warned his friend that his pap was "crazy". Well his friend was scared when DH accused him of taking his walkie, talkie. The little boy told Dh he didn't take his walkie talkie because he was never here before. Up until now, I thought the grandkids just thought maybe their pappap was just getting old ( he's 59) and did funny things. But after hearing this, I want them to understand. I want them to be patient and know how to talk to their pappap and what to tell their friends. Your poem is going to help me with this. Thank you.
Mag, what a wonderful idea. I also have grandkids in the same age bracket as yours. They know PopPop has a brain problem & they are actually pretty good with him, but he has never accused any of them (in person) of stealing anything (although he has told me that they have taken things from him). I think I will also print the poem & talk to them about him. I have 9 grandchildren & they will all be here at Christmas time so I think I will ask my kids if I can talk to the grandkids by myself & talk to them about PopPop & give them each a copy of the poem. After you talk to them please let us know how it goes.
Elaine, All went well with talking to the grandkids. They had a few questions but mostly they listened. We talked about patience, understanding and helping rather than laughing. I did not read the poem because I thought I might cry. The middle child, 10 y/o, seemed the most concerned. They were sad to hear that their pap would get worse someday. I was avoiding having to tell them, but I knew it was time and my daughter wasn't going to say anything to them. I would advise anyone who has children or grandchildren to talk to them openly and say the word, "Alzheimers."