Summer weather is supposed to make us all happier and send us out of our houses to play but unfortunately, those of us who are providing care 24/7, it isn’t that simple. My days as a CarePartner are full year-round, how do I find time for anything more just because it’s sunny and warm? Summer brings a truckload of additional chores and opportunities. Daylight lasts longer which makes me want to do stuff outside, but when do I get the inside stuff done? How can I balance enjoying summer and taking care of chores without exhausting myself?

The seasonal change impacts my mood. Where I should be happy and light, I often find myself stressed and grumpy, worrying over the things I don’t get done. And, I have to admit that sometimes the sunny days accentuate my feelings of loss for the fun things we used to do. We have yard games that we used to set up, they are all in our shed having become too challenging. I see our neighbors going camping. Friends talk of trips they are taking and, to be honest, I am jealous. My husband’s Parkinson’s Disease has changed how we spend our time and it often seems like all work and no play.

Summers will look different thanks to my husband’s diagnosis, but that doesn’t mean I can’t still find ways to enjoy them if I try. I hired someone to help with the yard work and I am learning to ignore the weeds. We take short day trips instead of going camping. I barbecue a lot and we eat our meals on the patio. If I adjust my expectations, I can find joy in the little moments we do have together. I can treasure memories of past summer adventures while still managing to create more, perhaps not as monumental, but just as good.