Caregiving Across the Decades
Caregiving Across the Ages Childhood As a young girl of the 1970's, it was clear that my role in life should encompass the typical female stereotypes seen in the world around me. And that was fine by me. While I was a tomboy for sure, the idea of caring for a family was a given. I had my dolls. I played school and house. I even dressed up my poor dog and drove him around in a doll carriage. So it makes sense that my first real role in caregiving was that of the neighborhood babysitter. WHAT A CAKEWALK! Show up. Eat their food. Have some friends over while the kids slept. Get paid. Go home! Cha Ching! As long as nobody got hurt too badly or found out you had the secret guests, you were golden! BUT...Unbeknownst to me, I was caregiving every day. Just not in the typical way one might expect. Yes, I fed the fish, walked the dog, and learned the deeds of a good little girl that fit the roles of caring for the home and family....