There is no doubt that I can do most things faster than my husband and with less effort. It makes sense because I don’t have the constant battles with my body to get my arms and legs to do what my brain is telling them to do. I can load the dishwasher, fold laundry, even vacuum the floors and finish faster so we can move on to the rest of our day. Whenever I do his chores, I take away his contributions to our home. I remove opportunities for him to show that he can still be an active and responsible participant in our daily lives. It may be easier for me in the moment, but it is not better for him in the long run.

We have contractors working on our house this week. I have tried not to be the primary contact, even shutting myself up in my office for periods of time so they would have to interact with my husband. The only thing he hasn’t been able to handle has been when they need checks written. It has been good for me, to not have to deal with them all the time, and good for him to be able to practice interacting with an adult other than me.

My husband is a very capable person even with his diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease. He may function a little slower, but he can still function if he is given the space and time. I know this is not true for everyone with the diagnosis, but it is our reality and I need to respect where we are and encourage him. There may come a time when I have to step up and do more, for now I need to be mindful of sharing the journey and the load, and let him deal with the carpenters.