EP 308: Taking Care of Your Parents with Tania

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This episode is about grieving parents and moving through loss. Today’s caller, Tania, is a new mom who is caring for her aging father. She is struggling with making decisions that are best for everyone involved. We talk through the guilt that is influencing her decisions and how she can make self-honoring choices that are the best for everyone involved.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">[For show notes, go here:</span> <a href="http://christinehassler.com/episode308"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Christinehassler.com/episode308</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When it comes to making choices for someone we love it can feel hard not to let guilt or obligation be involved. When we allow guilt and obligation into our decision-making we aren’t making the choices that are truly in the highest good for everyone concerned.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Guilt and shame prevent us from being able to honor our feelings and from navigating the many different emotions, perspectives, and thoughts of being human and going through life-changing experiences, and dealing with family members and people who are sick or difficult. It is OK to choose something that may feel selfish but is self-honoring and in the best interest of everyone involved.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There is no one-size-fits-all approach when making big decisions like what to do with an aging parent. You have to tune in and make a decision from love, not guilt about what is best for everyone involved.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When we hang on to someone, it can create an energetic obligation for them to stay longer. There are two deaths we have to grieve for our parents. The physical death and the death of the ideal. When we allow ourselves to grieve, our heart breaks open so healing can begin.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">W