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Parenting UP! Caregiving adventures with comedian J SmilesAuthor: J Smiles
Get engulfed in the intense journey of a caregiver who happens to be a comedian. J Smiles use of levity reveals the stress and rewards of caregiving interwoven with her own personal journey. Over 10 years ago, she was catapulted into caregiving overnight when the shock of her dad's death pushed her mom into Alzheimer's in the blink of an eye. A natural storyteller, her vivid descriptions and impressive recall will place you squarely in each moment of truth, at each fork in the road. She was a single, childless mechanical engineering, product designing, lawyer living a meticulously crafted international existence until she wasn't. The lifestyle shift was immediate. Starting from scratch, she painstakingly carved out useful knowledge and created a beneficial care plan for her mom. J Smiles will fly solo and have expert guests. You will get tips, tricks, trends and TRUTH. Alzheimer's is heavy, we dont have to be. All caregivers are welcome to snuggle up, Parent Up! Language: en-us Genres: Alternative Health, Education, Health & Fitness, How To Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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Did My Dad Visit Me at the NBA Finals? | A Special Edition Caregiving Story
Episode 10
Monday, 27 July, 2026
A single ticket can feel like a confession when you’re a caregiver. I’m telling one of the most vulnerable stories I’ve shared yet: how I tried to take care of myself while parenting up and carrying the heavy reality of dementia caregiving after my father died. The only reason I’m responsible for my mama the way I am comes back to that loss, and the grief still shows up in unexpected places.When the New York Knicks finally made the NBA Finals and the schedule landed Game 4 on my dad’s birthday, I couldn’t shake the pull. I wrestle with the price, the practicality, and the voice saying I should stay home and do the “reasonable” thing. But I’ve been practicing surrender and listening for intuition. That decision takes me all the way to Madison Square Garden alone, surrounded by die-hard fans, and straight into a moment I still can’t explain.Here’s the part that changed me: in a sold-out arena, the seat right next to mine stayed empty for the entire game. Add a wild comeback, a loud New York soundtrack, a wave of raw emotion, and suddenly this isn’t only a basketball story, it’s a caregiver burnout story, an Alzheimer’s awareness story, and a grief story about honoring a parent and letting yourself receive comfort. If you’ve ever wondered what real self-care looks like when you’re holding everything together, this one is for you.Subscribe on your favorite podcast app, share this with a caregiver in your life, and leave a review if it hits home. What’s the most unexpected place you’ve found healing?Exec. Producer/Host: J Smiles ComedyProducer: Mia Hall Editor: Annelise Udoye Support the show"Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!"IG: https://www.instagram.com/parentingupFB: https://www.facebook.com/parentingupYT: https://www.youtube.com/@parentingupTEXT 'PODCAST" to +1 404 737 1449 - to give J topic ideas, feedback, say hi!Be sure to leave us a review!
