Welcome to The Silver Haired Choo Choo: A Caregiver’s Ride Through Chaos, Love, and WTF Moments

I never planned on becoming a caregiver. But life, as it turns out, doesn’t really care about our plans.

For the past six years, I’ve been navigating the unpredictable, exhausting, and sometimes absurd world of caregiving. My mother—who is the sweetest, neediest human on the planet—is my full-time responsibility. I love her dearly. I also sometimes want to run screaming into the night. And if that sentence offends you, this might not be the blog for you.

Who is This Blog For?

• If you’re a caregiver, currently losing your mind, welcome.
• If you’ve ever felt judged by clueless bystanders who think they know how you should handle your loved one, you’re in the right place.
• If you need a space where caregiving is talked about with honesty, humor, and zero sugar-coating, grab a seat on the train.
• And if you’re one of those “Oh, I’d never put my parent in a home” types, well… bless your heart.

What You Can Expect

• Brutally Honest Stories – The highs, the lows, and the “Did that really just happen?” moments.
• Caregiver Hack of the Week – A tip, trick, or survival strategy to help you get through another day.
• The Absurdities of Caregiving – Because sometimes, all you can do is laugh – or cry.
• Real Talk on Mental, Emotional, and Physical Burnout – It’s not just about them. It’s about YOU, too – but it usually doesn’t feel like it.

This journey is messy, exhausting, and full of contradictions. One minute, I’m filled with love and gratitude. The next, I’m wondering how I ended up sacrificing my entire identity for this moment to moment miserable blessed life.

Caregiving is not for the weak. It’s for the strong, the tired, the sarcastic, and the ones who keep showing up anyway.

Welcome to The Silver Haired Choo-Choo. The train has left the station, and there’s no turning back now.

ALL ABOARD!

Disclaimer: Oh! Just one more thing…while I reference my mom many times, not every instance is about her (over the past six years I’ve gathered a LOT of information) – so come down off the ceiling – you’re okay. Every topic that I choose to talk about has a real human being attached to the story but out of respect to everyone on this journey – names and identities are confidential and shall remain so. Lastly, This community offers support and shared experience—not medical advice. Always consult healthcare professionals for treatment decisions. In an emergency, ALWAYS call 911.