Let me preface by saying that adding Jojo to the family happened after Mom's transition from her home of over 40 years to ours. This change was not an easy one for Mom. Moving to a new environment meant making tough decisions about what to keep and what not to. We spent days with Mom, moving at her pace, just sorting through years and years of clothing alone.
Mom has always been careful not to dispose of something that might still be useful. We even found paperwork and checkbooks going back to the 1950s. Sentimental mom even saved her training bra, I image in hopes of one day passing it on to a future daughter. When that didn't happen, seems she held onto it for a future granddaughter. Unfortunately, that didn't happen either. Simple, seemingly insignificant items we suggested disposing of were met with anger and frustration. Time and patience were essential in these moments.
To avoid upsetting Mom, we packed many items and slowly went through them together, box by box, after the move and over the next few years. We found that using clear plastic storage cabinets helped tremendously - Mom could easily see what was inside each container, making her feel more secure about where her treasures were stored. The gradual process helped ease the transition and allowed Mom to feel more in control of the changes happening around her.
To help Mom feel at home in her new space, we set up a digital picture frame with a rotating collection of family photos, including many from her previous home. This simple addition helped bridge the gap between past and present, bringing familiar comfort to her new surroundings.
Stay tuned for more stories about how Jojo adapts to Mom's condition and the special moments that make our family stronger every day.