Home School Heartbeat Radio Program

Mike Smith:
The question of whether to provide in-home care for aging parents and grandparents is one that an increasing number of homeschoolers are examining. Janice, could you lay out some of the pros and cons to consider when we think about this?

Janice Campbell:
If you choose, there are so many things you can gain from caregiving. You learn that people are more important than perfect schedules. You’ll learn to be flexible and patient. Your children will become better acquainted with the person you’re caring for and learn to bless them by helping out in so many ways. You’ll gain new friends who understand what you’re going through. You’ll learn that a sense of humor can make diapers, dentures, and dementia bearable, and you learn not to rely on yourself but on the Lord.

But no matter what the situation, there are always things you will lose. You’ll lose time alone with your husband and your children. You’ll miss out on going places with your family if the person you’re caring for can’t go and can’t be left alone. You’ll lose freedom of flexibility in almost every area of life. You lose touch with friends who aren’t similarly tied down. But through it all, you can draw closer to the Lord and have so many blessings, you’ll be thankful you did it.

Mike:
Janice, thank you! This could be really helpful to our listeners who are facing the question of whether to give in-home care. We’ll talk more about making that decision on our next program. And until then, I’m Mike Smith.