The Longest Stroke-Dementia Road To Somewhere Journal

January 7, 2019 Monday — “No Rest, A Real Pest!”

Today was my first day back at La Fitness after teaching my class for over eight years or more It had been about two and a half months since Mother’s stroke and my absence from my class. It was invigorating to be back doing what I truly enjoy, teaching cycling. After class many wanted to chat, but needed to hurriedly get back home to Mother.

Arrived home, Mother had been up a few times and called out for me but returned to bed. Note, the night before she was awake and calling out every couple of hours until the morning hours. I chose to no longer run into her room every time she yelled but ignored most of her yelling. I realized she only wanted to talk about going home or who was in her house. Jumping every time she yells or jumps, would suck the living life out of the soul. With dementia you learn which battles to fight and which to let fly. Experience is the best teacher. In the beginning, I constantly jumped but now I allowed her to stop on her own. Usually if you don’t respond, she’d go back to sleep.

Back at home, Ole ready for work and Mother is now in the restroom. I hurriedly threw off my gym clothes and put on my robe. If Mother saw I was already up, I couldn’t get her to return to bed. She’d look at my clothing to determine how long I had been awake. With the robe on, she thought I was still in bed and would go back to bed.