The little things add to the "wear and tear" type of stress for a caregiver. Some have called it "death by a thousand paper cuts." It comes anywhere. Anytime. And it all matters.
"Honey, put your seat belt on. That 'ding' tells us we're not bucked up." Again. So she checks to make sure the door is locked.
"No, honey, the shoulder harness." And she reaches for the door handle. Instant crisis.
"No, not that!" I say a bit too sharply. Pull over. Full Stop. Flashers on.
"Reach over your right shoulder to grab the shoulder harness." Ah yes, there's a problem with this approach: not sure where our "shoulder" is, if there is a left and right, or which one is "right." Prepare to try again.
She's getting tense. Aware that something is wrong or she is doing something wrong... but not sure what. Senses my tension and her brain is flooded with emotion instead of the cognitive thinking that used to be automatic. My brain, too.
"The strap. Pull that strap across your body and buckle that into the thing down here," I say with a smile. And I point... to give a visual cue.
But she missed the receiver down by her hip and tried to click it into the console between us instead. By the cupholder.
So I said, "Thanks, dear," as I took it from her hand. Reaching across the console, I pushed down until I heard that satisfying click. Long exhale.
"Let's listen to some music,"I suggest as we leave the neighborhood. Success.
What will be next?
Image from <a href="https://www.flaticon.com/free-icons/seat-belt" title="seat belt icons">Seat belt icons created by Freepik - Flaticon</a>
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