The Most Important Word

It was so very nice to hear the President of the United States say the word caregiver in a joint session of Congress last night.  

That was nothing I’ve heard from that podium before but looking forward to hearing it much more often.

It reminds me of some other firsts with regards to that word. 

The first time I heard a sitting senator say the word caregiver was in the mid nineties.  And it was because he just became one.

I’ll never forget the first time I read the words, “she was a loving caregiver.“ It was in a newspaper obituary in the late nineties.

When we received the Internet address caregiver.com, it was by phoning a number from a corded house phone with push buttons (kids, ask your grandparents). 

Paraphrasing former First Lady Rosalynn Carter’s famous statement as we are either now all caregivers, almost caregivers or will be in the need of caregivers, thankfully we are now being represented in academy award winning performances, articles and television programs.

Now as the striking caregiving statistics are becoming well known and government and industries are creating more programs  in support of family caregivers, it is time for us to all keep the fearless caregiver motto close to our hearts, “I am a fearless caregiver, don’t mess with me.“   

Please share your thoughts below.