Parenting UP! Caregiving adventures with comedian J Smiles

J Smiles lets listeners meet another main "crew" member,  a major supporter on her journey as a caregiver, Monica Cost. Interestingly, their bond started as adults through civic board membership.  But wow, did they make up for 'lost' time. With many natural connections - members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., HBCU'ers, and free spirits they became fast friends. Monic...

Caregivers experience quite a few dark, negative emotions. Often they are ashamed to shared such feelings aloud. J Smiles tackles frustration in hopes of normalizing this "negative" expression. She uses a variety of funny and not-so-humorous memories with Zetty to drive the point home.  According to Smiles, frustration looms always. She sites expert's coping mechanisms throughout th...

Caregivers experience a tsunami of emotions. Positive, negative, neutral, unspeakable. J Smiles tackles resentment. She uses very specific examples of pain and purpose to expose her journey of uncovering this tricky emotion.  A conversation with a member of Kevin Hart's team really drives home the point of how quickly J must pivot in day to day decisions.    She speaks truth to the loneliness...

Routine does not mean regular when it comes to doctors office visits for Zetty. Much to J Smiles dismay, these common appointments are quite eventful. Ever the observant comedic advocate, J Smiles gives the listener a first ear-view of several actual annual exams Zetty was forced to endure. You will never prepare a urine sample the same again. J offers a sprinkling of solutions to doctors and medi...

Quirky, honest storytelling. J Smiles files solo recounting a series of unrelated true events that remind us it will all be okay in the end, one way or another. Each memory spotlights how simple slips into complex and how common is not always ordinary. J Smiles gives the listener a moment to pause and chuckle at some of the unbelievably-random-silly things that a caregiver faces. The theme is deci...

Choices and options are celebrated all over the world. Everyday we are encouraged to expand more, try more, do more. We are trained to avoid boredom at all cost. And definitely never become too bland or predictable. J Smiles asks the listener to trash this thinking. Alzheimer's created a need for patterns, repetition and routines in her mom's life. J treads lightly putting variety in Zet...

J Smiles moves swiftly to shed light on a normalized bias in the United States that really irks her. The legal marginalization of the elderly. She gives examples of how lawmakers and policy pushers have not included Alzheimer's sufferers in their protective based legislations. She parallels television parental controls for minors and seeks the same progressive choices for caregivers.  Ever th...

J Smiles lets listeners meet one of her main crew members, one her biggest supporters on her journey as a caregiver, Christine Beatty. Their bond started as members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. at Howard University almost thirty years ago. Christine gives her special account of Zetty and Jaigee before and since Alzheimer's disease. She retraces humorous, touching and thoughtful moments...

Faced with an awful trifecta, J Smiles and Zetty must quarantine for two weeks with zero additional caregivers. The stress is compounded when Zetty returns from the hospital less healthy than when she went in. J has to throw old tried and true measures out the window and learn new tricks to get her mom's recovery started. J shares examples of hard learned "what works" and "what...

J Smiles pours out her heart in this episode.  Believing Zetty has a simple Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), she is forced to call 911.  It turns out to be much more serious. The ER presents one obstacle after another as J tries to guide the staff on best practices and techniques to get Zetty to acquiesce to the many tests. Routine blood and urine samples become stressful, silly displays of the mass...

J Smiles addresses the nightmare dilemma every caregiver faces sooner or later... whether or not to use 911 (or another emergency medical service). The decision is compounded by the dementia person's inability to communicate. J also touches on the elusive vasovagal syncope and Zetty's experience with it. As always, she uses love, levity and transparency to transport her listeners. Suppor...

J Smiles' completes the two part conversation with Dr. Sandea Greene-Harris, neurosurgeon and caregiver. Dr. Sandy clears up a common misconception of dementia. The two share personal stories of prioritizing caregiving responsibilities. The laughs are infectious as they recount a few childhood memories from Montgomery, Alabama. This conversation provides raw insight and supportive methods to...

J Smiles begins the two part conversation with Dr. Sandea "Dr. Sandy" Greene-Harris.  Dr. Sandy was introduced to you in Ep 1 and now you get to hear why this neurosurgeon was uniquely situated to become president of Zetty's board of brain health . The episode centers on Dr. Sandy's positions as mother, wife, daughter, caregiver and surgeon. J Smiles asks poignant questions on...

J Smiles shares how the stress of caregiving created physical sickness landing her at the hospital. Plus, she walks you through her journey of grief as a caregiver for Zetty, who has Alzheimer's.   Support the show " Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" IG: https://www.instagram.com/parentingup FB: https://www.facebook.com/parentingup YT: https://www.youtube.com/@...

J Smiles' conversation with DeWanda Smith, The Zetty Whisperer, continues with more comical stories and more tips. DeWanda's easy going manner shines through as an excellent approach to administering care. Specific examples of what is challenging and what is rewarding about caregiving are included. Support the show " Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" IG: ht...

Zetty's first, and best caregiver, joins J Smiles to recount, relive and laugh. Listen to  DeWanda Smith, the Zetty whisperer, share how and why she became a caregiver after retiring from the corporate world. DeWanda and J Smiles get into the caregiver nitty gritty of daily life, needing help, outings with Zetty and staying sane.  Support the show " Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain&a...

Zetty requires 24/7 care and J Smiles is clueless as to how to provide it. J Smiles gets ideas and suggestions from internet searches and a childhood friend. Undaunted and overwhelmed, J Smiles traipses into the uncharted territory of getting H.E.L.P. Support the show " Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" IG: https://www.instagram.com/parentingup FB: https://www.facebo...

Shocked by the doctor's advice of emergency brain surgery for her mother (Zetty), J Smiles asks God for a sign. With the prayer answered, she is consumed with saving her mother's life. The events that unfold make it obvious that both of their lives will never be the same.  Support the show " Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" IG: https://www.instagram.com/pa...

The first full episode. J Smiles reveals the shocking events leading to her mom's Alzheimer's diagnosis. Her swift meandering journey of becoming a full-time caregiver is vividly detailed. Heartfelt, and perhaps hard to hear, you get a strong sense of the love and levity combination at the core of her brand of caregiving. The Snuggle Up, a suggestion segment, premiere is here too.  Suppo...

Trailer: the what, the who & the why. A raw portrayal of a comedian daughter's care journey for a mom with ALZ.  Support the show " Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" IG: https://www.instagram.com/parentingup FB: https://www.facebook.com/parentingup YT: https://www.youtube.com/@ parentingup TEXT  'PODCAST"  to  +1 404 737 1449  - to give J topic ide...