Episode 4: Losing the Mom You Knew, Finding Compassion in the Change with Becky

Episode 8: Caregiving, Capacity, and Choosing What Works with Katina

Episode 8: Caregiving, Capacity, and Choosing What Works with Katina Episode Description: There’s no one “right” way to care for someone you love. In this episode of Parental Advisory—In Reverse, I talk with Katina, who is caring for her mother at home—and getting paid through a Medicaid program to do it. For her, this is the right choice. It allows her to be present, to provide consistent care, and to keep her mom in a familiar environment. And in this same moment… my sister and I have made a very different decision. We recently moved our mom into an assisted living facility after navigating the realities of her diagnosis, safety needs, cost, and our own capacity to provide care. This conversation isn’t about which option is better. It’s about how different families make different decisions—with the resources, support, and circumstances they have. Inside this episode, we talk about: * What it looks like to be a paid caregiver for a parent * How Medicaid programs can support family caregiving * The emotional and practical realities of caring for someone at home * The decision-making process behind choosing assisted living * Why caregiving is about more than love—it’s about capacity If you’ve ever questioned whether you’re making the “right” decision for someone you love… this episode is for you. 👉 Want to learn more about getting paid as a caregiver through Medicaid? Start here: https://www.usa.gov/disability-caregiver#:~:text=Become%20a%20paid%20caregiver%20through%20a%20state%20Medicaid%20program&text=Many%20states%20call%20this%20a,Medicaid%20office%20for%20more%20information [https://www.usa.gov/disability-caregiver#:~:text=Become%20a%20paid%20caregiver%20through%20a%20state%20Medicaid%20program&text=Many%20states%20call%20this%20a,Medicaid%20office%20for%20more%20information]. Different families. Different choices. No judgment. Take care of yourselves, everyone.

Episode 7: Making Ammends in the Middle of Caregiver with Cecilee

Episode #7: Making Amends in the Middle of Caregiving with Cecilee Caregiving doesn’t just reveal who our parents are. It reveals who we are, too. In this episode of Parental Advisory in Reverse, Allison sits down with her friend Cecilee for an honest conversation about one of the quieter parts of caregiving: regret. Cecilee shares openly about moments during her mother’s care that she’s not proud of — the stress, the exhaustion, the old family dynamics that sometimes surface when adult children step into the role of caregiver. This conversation is her opportunity to reflect, make amends, and talk honestly about what many caregivers experience but rarely say out loud. Because caregiving is rarely neat or perfect. It’s human. And sometimes growth begins with simply telling the truth about the moments we wish we had handled differently. Allison also shares a personal update on her own family’s journey. Around the time this episode was recorded, her mother received encouraging news that the cancer was not spreading. But even with that good news, the side effects of treatment have been significant — leading Allison and her sister to make the decision to move their mom to Indianapolis so she can be closer to them. The move will end the regular two-hour weekend drives across the Midwest, but it also begins a new chapter: helping their mom leave the community she has lived in for fifty years. Along the way, there have also been some unexpected moments of humor — including her mom’s recent belief that the house she has lived in for decades has secretly been turned into a care facility… with business potential. Future episodes will share some of the lighter moments that can happen even in the middle of difficult seasons. If you're caring for aging parents, navigating complicated family relationships, or simply trying to do your best in a hard season of life, this episode is for you. Topics in this episode • Caregiving and adult children • Making amends with aging parents • Navigating regret in caregiving • Supporting parents with cancer • Family caregiving realities • Finding humor during difficult seasons Take care everyone.

Episode 6: A Quick, Honest Check-In From Me

Episode 6: A Quick, Honest Check-In From Me This week’s episode is a little different — it’s just me. No guest, no long conversation, just an honest eight-minute check-in about what caregiving has looked like in real time. I talk about the whirlwind of the last few days: the Packers game that didn’t spark the reaction we hoped for… how no one preares you for a catheter… and how we even had to let go of a caregiver whose strengths were activities and cooking — not the medical care we need now. It’s been overwhelming and humbling, but we're still pushing through. If you’re in the thick of caring for aging parents, or navigating daily changes that feel impossible to keep up with, I hope these few minutes help you feel a little less alone. New interviews return next week — but for now, thanks for listening to this small, real-life moment with me. Take care of yourself.

Episode 4: Losing the Mom You Knew, Finding Compassion in the Change with Becky

Episode 4: Losing the Mom You Knew, Finding Compassion in the Change with Becky In this episode, Becky embodies the Gen X experience of being the responsible one—even when she’s fed up, stretched thin, and caring for a mother who, in her words, “isn’t even my mom anymore.” Becky shows up for Mary Margaret with grit, humor, and a surprising amount of grace as she navigates memory loss, identity shifts, and the emotional whiplash of caregiving. If you’ve ever felt the tug-of-war between duty and resentment—or the strange moments of gratitude that sneak in anyway—this conversation will hit home. We talk about: • What it feels like to care for a parent who feels like a stranger • The invisible labor Gen X is carrying • Moments of levity that make the hard days survivable • Accepting help, setting boundaries, and finding slivers of joy • How caregiving confronts you with pieces of your past—and still leaves behind love Grab a tissue—this episode is tender, real, and surprisingly funny. Parental Advisory in Reverse shares real stories from Gen X adults taking care of the people who once took care of us.

Episode 3: Laughing Through the Tears with Abby

Episode 3: Laughing Through the Tears with Abby In this episode of Parental Advisory in Reverse, Abby shares the raw, tender, and unexpectedly funny realities of caring for her father at the end of his life. From honoring his wishes - even when she would’ve preferred an easier path - to the fair food at his bedside that somehow became a cherished memory, Abby reminds us how love shows up in the everyday moments. She opens the door to the things you don’t know that you don’t know about hospice, the emotional whiplash of caregiving, and the beauty hidden inside those final weeks. Her stories will make you laugh, cry, and maybe both at the same time. Up next? Becky, and you might need more than just one Kleenex. She’s the epitome of the Gen Xer who’s tired of being the responsible one, yet somehow still finds gratitude in showing up for her mom, Mary Margaret. If you're supporting aging parents or preparing for what's ahead, this episode is for you.