Caregiving From Values, Not Guilt

These scripts are for communicating your caregiving out loud, so that you know why you are doing what you are doing, and so the people around you can understand. As always, change the wording so it sounds like you, and fill in the blanks with your own specifics.

• "I am choosing to care for [person] because I want to be someone who [shows up / keeps her word / is there at the end]. Not because I'm afraid of what people will think if I don't."

• "I want you to know I'm not here because I feel like I have to be. I'm here because I want to be.”

• "I know it looks like I got stuck with this. But I've actually thought about it, and this is a choice I'm making on purpose. It's important to me that it's seen that way."

• "Yes, I'll take this on. I'm doing it because [reason that fits your values], and I want to be the one who does it."

• "I'm not going to take this one on. It’s not that I don’t care. I have to make sure I can take care of [Person / thing].”

• "I hear that you're counting on me, and I want to help. Here's what I can do: [specific]."