Anyone
who knows me, knows that I am a huge advocate and instructor of memoir writing.
I especially love reading stories that people have taken the time and effort to
pen about their lives. It preserves history. If we don’t share our stories,
they are lost to our future generations.
In Mother, I AM Your Daughter: Do You Want to See My Driver's License Again? Diane
Drummond DePre tells us exactly what she thinks about life as she was growing
up, getting married, having children and becoming caregiver to her mother
following her dad’s passing.
She
was a self-admitted “Daddy’s Girl,” and was crushed to see her dad’s gradual
demise due to Alzheimer’s, a debilitating disease that robs people of their
personalities, their logical behavior, their relationships and eventually their
lives.
At
the same time, her mother was also suffering from Alzheimer’s. Diane had her
hands full as she made every effort to work out the best, most logical care for
her parents.
This
story delves deeply into the frustrations children can face in trying to keep
elderly parents safe, comfortable and happy. Their worlds can change abruptly,
and we all know how the older generation generally feels about change. They
become very much accustomed to their own routines, and uprooting them--even in
their best interest--can be completely unnerving to them.
Then
there are family issues of determining who will be the responsible sibling for
overseeing the care and affairs of an elderly parent. Dynamics vary from family
to family, but the tasks often fall on one individual, and God help him/her if
he/she doesn’t have a strong support system backing them up one hundred
percent. As much as one loves a parent and wants everything right for them,
that responsibility can begin to weigh heavily on the patience barometer when
there is no or little relief or respite to the caregiver.
I
give Diane tremendous credit for being completely honest and direct about her
feelings and personal experience in this arena. She doesn’t try to sugar coat
what transpired and paints a vivid picture of life as she lived it. Her stories
elicit every emotion from laughter to sadness and most definitely sympathy.
What
is it like to care for a parent and know that today will be just as unpredictable
as yesterday? Exactly what will you be ejected from your comfort zone to handle
next? Take a walk in Diane’s shoes for a touching dose of reality about our
aging population.
Who
will care for us when we can no longer care for ourselves? It is a sobering
question. Bravo to Diane Drummond DuPre for sharing her account of life as a
caregiver, and many prayers and blessings to her as she travels her own
uncertain journey.
Book Description
Mother, I Am
Your Daughter: Do You Want to See My Driver's License Again? is a humorous, yet tender memoir
about an aging mother with Alzheimer's Disease and her grown daughter who cares
for her. Filled with southern charm, hilarious tales and abiding love, Mother I
Am Your Daughter is a not-so-guilty pleasure for mothers, daughters and
caregivers of every age and every stage!
In the Words of Diane Drummond DuPre
“She’s my
mother, my friend, my child, my teacher, my entertainment and my full time job.
I am her child, her friend, her mother, her sister, her teacher, her nurse, and
whoever else she wants me to be at any given moment.”
About the Author
The author lives in the Myrtle Beach
area with her husband, John, happily hosting her growing family of children and
grandchildren.
Visit her Amazon page at:
***
See
you soon!
Mary
Anne Benedetto
Author of Eyelash, 7 Easy Steps to Memoir
Writing: Build a Priceless Legacy One Story at a Time!, Never Say
Perfect, From Italy with Love & Limoncello and Write Your
Pet's Life Story in 7 Easy Steps!
*****
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