The very best advice ever given to me was given by my mother-in-law.
When I had just one little boy, life was fun. Oh, I thought it was hard because he didn’t sleep very well, but, all in all, it was fun. I had plenty of hands and plenty of help.
When I went from one to two, life just got funner.
Going from two to three, though, meant that I ran out of hands, but that was okay. Backpacks and front carriers worked well.
From three to four presented a problem. I had no where else to put a child.
Somewhere in that two-three-four child range, I realized I was really struggling to do this job. My mother-in-law raised thirteen children. Well, actually, fourteen, because a cousin came to live with them when her mother died. I asked my mother-in-law one day how she did it.
“You just do,” she said. That’s all there is to it.
D is for Do.
“Fred” asked me a riddle the other day, “How do you eat an elephant?”
I think he was hoping I would say, “With an elephant fork,” but I knew the answer — one bite at a time.
You just do.
You take one step forward. Then another. Then another.
That advice helped me through child-rearing, and later, in the midst of adult caregiving. Caring for someone with dementia is not unlike caring for small children.
When life is overwhelming, look around for something you can do — some small thing, a baby step you can take forward or even sideways, a tiny bite you can take of the elephant.
Do.
Hot Dogs and Marmalade 
That’s true for any challenge, although I think prayer precedes “do”.
That’s so true, Susan.
Excellent advice. That basically covers everything in life. You just do, and you enjoy.
Yes, you are so right. You can look back on what you’ve done and feel good. Looking forward with all the unknowns is very hard and maybe better not contemplated except for the necessary planning. The “Now” is all that really matters and you can surely manage one moment at a time.
My mother just passed, after years of growing dementia, and I am so happy for her to be “free at last” of her difficult circumstances.
I’m so sorry for your loss, but I understand “free at last”.
I know children are one of those aspects of life that would have never worked for me- I just lack the patience.
Great advice. So cool to see her whole family in place.
That is very good advice.
Love this post. Just do is a great way to live life. Sometimes we over-think things too much.
Like like and love. Sounds like something my mom would say too.
Your mom would know all about doing.
Like the Nike slogan, “Just Do It!”–one day, one moment at a time. Good reminder. Gail at Making Life An Art
Great advice for when ever a person is overwhelmed and struggling. Wonderful blog. I look forward to following.