PORT ORANGE, Fla., June 16, 2009 — Suddenly it happens, with the excruciating impact of a blow with a two-by-four. We find ourselves needing to parent our parents.
Author Cheryl Jenkins, in her new book, “She Just Wanted to Dance Again,” (published by iUniverse), encounters the inevitable aging and role-reversal process. Drawing on her own experience becoming caretaker for her mother, “She Just Wanted to Dance Again” outlines the phases of emotional upheaval when the parent-child relationship begins to change: The sense of loss, phases of sadness, compassion, anger, resentment, fear, aggravation and impatience — by the child as well as the parent. Adult children may be torn between their sense of duty and responsibility, society’s expectations and norms and the parent’s desire to not “become a burden.” And all the while navigating a complicated journey through a caregiving system that is frustrating, costly and inefficient.
In her two-part exploration, Jenkins shows that caretaking isn’t an exact science, but that it also does not need to be so overwhelming that it consumes and tears apart our daily lives and relationships. Part one outlines Jenkins’ personal story, and part two includes practical guidance, ideas and recommendations for others starting on a similar path. “She Just Wanted to Dance Again” will also pass knowledge on to others to share with a new generation so when it’s time to take care of us, our children will have the practical and emotional resources to do so.
About the Author
Cheryl Jenkins graduated from Warren G. Harding High School in 1971 and went on to attend classes at a local university. She never finished college, got married at 21, had a son at age 25 and divorced shortly thereafter. She lived in Ohio, Michigan and then moved to Florida in 1987 and began a career in Aerospace. Her mother and father remained in Ohio and her brother, four years younger, passed away in 1991. Now at age 56 and living with her life partner, she has become her elderly mother’s caregiver. This is her first book.
“She Just Wanted to Dance Again”
Available from: http://www.iUniverse.com, http://www.bn.com, and http://www.amazon.com.
iUniverse offers a variety of publishing services to help individuals publish, market and sell fiction, poetry and nonfiction books. The company utilizes print-on-demand technology, and is one of the largest self-publishing companies in the U.S. iUniverse is based in Bloomington, Indiana.
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