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I have discovered the root of all caregiver guilt! Read on to learn why we feel it and why we shouldn’t…

I’ve written about caregiver guilt several times, because the struggle is real. Not only do we feel guilty about what we are – or are not – doing, (I should be more attentive. I should spend more time with my parents….), we even feel guilty about what we are thinking!

Spending time with Mom and Dad isn’t enough; we are supposed to enjoy every minute of it. We have told ourselves that we should be able to sit with our elderly parents and discuss their bowel movements or listen to the same complaint about the assisted living staff that we hear every Saturday week after week, and we should feel loving and happy while we do. Painting a smile on our face while screaming on the inside, isn’t good enough. Why is that? I have discovered the answer!

The Root of All Caregiver Guilt

Because THIS is what we see when we search for information on caregiving.

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Ladies, this is not reality! No one is doing chokeholds and forehead taps with their aging parents. Caregiving in the real world does not look like this. You know what it looks like: yoga pants, pony tail, Vera Bradley bag...and so much screaming on the inside.

For more on managing caregiver guilt:

15 Reasons Caregivers Feel Guilt And The One Way To Overcome It

The Dos and Don’ts of Managing Caregiver Guilt

Coping With Caregiver Guilt During the Holidays