I wake up each morning never knowing what the day ahead may bring. I know what’s on my calendar and the things I hope to get done, but I haven’t really known what’s possible since my husband was diagnosed with Parkinsons’s Disease. Because we’re not in charge anymore, his PD is. And things can change quickly based on whether he’s having a good day or a bad day, a never ending question.

What causes good or bad days? Is it a problem with his meds or something he has eaten that interferes? No one can tell us. For my husband, those are days when he doesn’t feel like doing anything. He prefers to call them “low energy” days. We laugh about it because neither of us can remember him having a “high energy” day. There is also the constant worry about him falling. It only takes one fall to throw us schedule off for days. Added to that are the normal aches and pains he has from growing older. When he is less able to function due to low energy or an injury, I have to up my caregiver game. Obviously less on my to-do list gets done.

Life is challenging, life with PD has the potential to be overwhelming whether you are the one with the disease or the one caring for them. What I have learned is to take advantage of his good days to get my things done. I have also learned to accept that there will be days when nothing gets done. There’s always tomorrow and maybe, just maybe, it’ll be okay.