"The author has an amazing ability to transcribe her memories into humorous anecdotes... those funny stories made the painful moments bearable. Caregiving is hard and this book gives an honest portrayal of how wearing it can be... Bravo! So well done. I can't wait to purchase a few copies and have it on hand for my caregivers." ~Colleen Smith, Caregiver Specialist, Monmouth County Division on Aging

An only child with devoted parents, Mary Ann Kampfe determines to return the favor when they need her help. When Josephine and Joe Mandrick relocate to live closer to their daughter, Mary Ann splits her time between her home and their apartment twenty minutes away.

But Mary Ann finds herself suffocating in the "sandwich," feeling her efforts fall flat. She blames herself for her parents' discontent with the arrangement. Perhaps the demands of her growing family prevented the fun times and closer relationship she had hoped for with her parents. Or, even worse, is the problem that Mary Ann - as her mother Josephine often said - a carbon copy of her pleasant but sometimes cold father?

After Joe Mandrick passes away, 86-year-old Josephine moves in with Mary Ann's family. Although daunted by the prospect of once again living under the same roof as "Hurricane Josephine," Mary Ann hopes for the best.

Then, a few months later, Josephine is diagnosed with dementia. Puzzled by her fading memory and saddened by her situation, Josephine looks to her daughter for validation. Although determined to make life as enjoyable as possible for her mom, exhaustion and resentment seep in.

However, despite the disagreements and increasing demands, Mary Ann finally comes to learn there is indeed a silver lining in the cloud of dementia.

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• Parenting & RelationshipsAging Parents & EldercareEldercare
• Biographies & MemoirsMemoirs

• Publication Date: April 9, 2019
• Text-to-Speech: Disabled
• Lending: Disabled
• Print Length: 206 Pages
• File Size: 40 KB