Thank you for your kind words. That means a lot to me, really. I think it hurts my mom to acknowledge that I'm her caretaker. She has said a few times, "I'm supposed to be taking care of you; not the other way around." I think maybe she feels burdensome and like a failure. Maybe it's just easier for her to see me as her daughter who simply helps her out instead of her daughter who is her caretaker. The label might be too much for her.

I don't have many complaints or frustrations. I have time to myself and sometimes she's able to help me a little bit by doing the dishes or folding clothes. Mostly, I just get worn out with the constant ups and downs all day. It's mostly like fetching that I do from day to day and that can be very tiring when all I want to do is sit down and unwind.

Sometimes she'll ask me if I'm up to doing something for her, and although I'm really not, I just grin and bear it. I can't say no to her because she needs me. It would hurt me too much to say no and then watch her struggle to do it herself instead. All of that adds up though and I'm already so stressed out, depressed, and anxious about a million other things and... I just want a break.