avatarEP McKnight, MEd

Summary

The story recounts a family's experience taking their 95-year-old mother with dementia to a comedy club, finding joy and happiness in the midst of the condition.

Abstract

The narrative "Love Triumphs Dementia with Laughter" is a touching account of how a family chooses to focus on the positive aspects of life despite their mother's dementia. It emphasizes the importance of honoring, respecting, and loving parents, while also acknowledging the need for forgiveness in cases where parental shortcomings exist. The family's decision to attend a comedy show with their mother leads to an evening filled with laughter, which brings them immense happiness and underscores the power of joy in coping with dementia. The story is accompanied by photographs capturing the mother's radiant happiness during the event, reinforcing the idea that happiness and love can make the world comprehensible even through the eyes of someone with dementia. The author advocates for cherishing every moment with elderly parents and making each day meaningful, as tomorrow is never guaranteed.

Opinions

  • The author believes that life is a journey that should be appreciated, and that aging and the finite nature of life serve as reminders to value our time with loved ones.
  • Parents deserve respect and love, and while some may require forgiveness for their failings, it is important to honor their contributions.
  • The author suggests that personal choices, such as seeking happiness and contentment, significantly influence one's quality of life.
  • Laughter is presented as a universal remedy that can uplift spirits regardless of circumstances, and it played a vital role in brightening the mother's experience with dementia.
  • The family's proactive approach to protection against Covid-19 reflects their commitment to safeguarding their family's health, emphasizing personal responsibility in the face of ongoing health concerns.
  • The author promotes the idea that making a positive impact in someone's life can lead to future blessings, hinting at a karmic perspective on kindness and compassion.

Love Triumphs Dementia with Laughter

A short story about seeing joy, peace, and happiness through dementia eyes.

Photo by EPMcKnight

Life is truly a journey and not a destination. When our parents age right before our eyes, it is a wake-up call that life is finite for all at any age. Parents are owed in so many ways not for what they did not do but more for what they did do. No parent is perfect and must be honored, respected, and loved.

There are situations where parents have not performed as a parent should and for those parents forgiveness is needed. Doing this allows the wounded child to move on and heal in life. Sadly to say, an abusing parent, probably was an abused child who continued what they experienced. In this situation, the child must become the bigger person by forgiving and moving on thereby freeing their wounded spirit.

Life gives us choices to be happy or sad, miserable or content. Choices will determine how your day or life proceeds. A little laughter goes a long way for everyone no matter the situation you are in or was in.

My 95-year-old mother has dementia but we do not allow it to define her life or our life. For the first time, we decided to take her to a comedy club where a friend of ours, Keith Ross Nelson, was performing.

After dinner, we proceeded into the club and were the first to arrive and moments later more and more people arrived. We had our masks on but most of the people did not wear a mask. That is their choice but I am protecting my family, by all means, necessary because Covid is alive and thriving all around. No regrets here.

There were four comedians performing and our friend, Keith Ross Nelson, was the headliner for the evening. For two hours, the room filled with much laughter along with mother chuckling here and there. Her laughter made me so happy. When momma is happy, everybody is happy.

Below are a few photos from our first comedy night together with mother. Check out the glow on Mother’s face. When the soul and spirit is happy and feeling love the world makes sense through the eyes of dementia.

Photo by EPMcKnight
Photo by EPMcKnight
Photo by EPMcKnight
Photo by EPMcKnight
Photo by EPMcKnight
Photo by EPMcKnight

In conclusion, every day is a celebration when your parents reach their elederly years, especially in their 90s. My advice to all is too make every moment and every day count and matter. Tomorrow is not promised to the young or old, no time to live in the past but the present is all that matters. Make the difference in a life, and someday karma will repay the favor.

For additional reads:

Valentines Day
Motherhood
Dementia
Alzheimers
Life Lessons
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