Donna provides care for her son and her mom, who both need her support. But people don’t need to have a disability or be elderly to need care — or for us to want to care for them.

I realized something about myself — I deeply enjoy caring for the people I love. And caring for Natalie, who doesn’t really ‘need’ care is soothing for me. It is a form of self-care for me. There is such delight in offering comfort food, in morning and nighttime hugs and in late afternoon chats about future planning.

Caring for someone who doesn’t absolutely ‘need’ care is a form of respite.

Read more on The Caregivers’ Living Room.