Together with Love and Grace: Stories of Hope with Leslie

Together with Love and Grace: Stories of Hope with Leslie Rayna Neises 23:20

Rayna Neises, your host, welcomes Leslie McLeod. Leslie is a writer, artist, mom, and co-owner of a tech company. She has a passion for building up relationships, especially among families with aging parents. Leslie and her siblings rallied together to care for both their parents simultaneously. Based on that experience, she is writing a book to help families survive their season of caring without the added burden of preventable relationship damage. Leslie shares the following insights:

[4:02] There is no precedent for this season for most of us.
[6:13] Part of the caregiving component is independence vs. the need for care.
[7:06] An important part of the communication piece is denial and avoidance.
[08:09] An area of conflict is the money piece.
[9:47] Another issue is crazy Grief (emotional reactions that are anticipatory).
[12:53] Being deliberate in communication is important.
[14:37] Appoint a gatekeeper.
[16:52] Be proactive.
[17:34] Build bridges and do not divide us versus them.
[18:25] Take advantage of resources.
[19:10] Don’t pass up a hug.
[19:22] Capture memories.
[19:38] Do it together with love and grace.
Visit Leslie’s website at www.lamcleod.com to see her beautiful artwork, get her newsletter to stay in touch, and receive updates on her new book.
This episode has been brought to you by Content Magazine online, electronic magazine, available quarterly to offer you hope and encouragement through your caregiving so that you may find God even in the middle of your caregiving season.

Rayna Neises A Season of Caring

Rayna Neises understands the joys and challenges that come from a season of caring. She helped care for both of her parents during their separate battles with Alzheimer’s over a thirty-year span. She is able to look back on those days now with no regrets – and she wishes the same for everyone caring for aging parents.

Rayna is the author of No Regrets: Hope for Your Caregiving Season, an ICF certified coach, the host of “A Season of Caring” podcast, Positive Approach® to Care (PAC)Independent Certified Trainer and speaker who is passionate about offering encouragement, support, and resources for regret-free caring aimed at preventing family caregivers from aimlessly wandering through this important season of life.

Rayna lives on a farm in southeast Kansas with her husband, Ron, and small pack of adorable dogs. She is the baby of her family, but most would never guess that. She is a former teacher who enjoys crafts of all kinds and spending time with her grandkids most of all.