The author moved in with her parents to help with her mother's caregiving.
Courtesy of Jeanni Ritchie
I moved back to my Louisiana hometown from Biloxi, Mississippi, in 2023 after 35 years on my own. It was the solution to two problems — I was newly divorced with nowhere to go, and my dad needed help caring for my mom, who had dementia.It was supposed to be temporary. Respite care for him, refuge for me. A year or two, tops.We almost didn't make it through the first six months.It was difficult at firstI was angry, hurting, and trying to figure out what came next. Moving back home felt strangely familiar, like being a teenager again. Unfortunately, I acted like one sometimes, too.My mom and I struggled during those first months. I was trying to help, but she didn't want my help. And while my dad appreciated the extra hands, he often found himself caught in the middle. I understood dementia intellectually, but emotionally, I felt rejected by my own mother.
The author and her parents found a rhythm living together.
Courtesy of Jeanni Ritchie
