Family caregiving takes many forms. It can be as complicated as a son or daughter bringing their parents into their home to help care for them. Or, it can be as simple as helping mom or dad with their errands, or taking them to their doctor appointments.

In my mom’s case, an important part of her caregiving didn’t involve our family at all. After dad died, we needed someone to help her mow the grass. Mom’s neighbor came to our assistance with a practical solution that not only helped mom, but also the neighbor.

The neighbor had three young boys. The oldest was twelve at the time. The neighbor, although she had plenty of money, wanted her boys to earn their weekly allowance plus earn an additional amount with a job they could do. That’s where mom helped them while they helped her.

The oldest boy mowed mom’s grass for several years until the middle child was old enough to take over. The middle child mowed mom’s grass for a couple of years until the youngest was ready to take over. The youngest child mowed until my mom moved into an apartment last year.

Mom paid the boys a weekly amount, but it wasn’t much. The boys mother wanted her children to learn the worth of money. They had plenty of money, but she wanted them to know what hard work was all about.

Mom and I appreciated the neighbors’ help so much. They’ll probably never know how much we appreciated them. The boys thought they were just earning a little extra money, and their mother was happy that they were learning the value of hard work.

But, it meant so much more than that to my mom and I. It meant an essential job was done that was needed, and neither she nor I had to worry about it. And, it helped her manage her house for as long as she wanted to live there.

Whether you are a caregiver for a family member, a neighbor, or friend – we respect and acknowledge your love and dedication. It’s another lesson learned.

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