A living will allows you to document your wishes concerning medical treatment when you are unable to speak for your self or nearing end of life. A medical power of attorney allows you to appoint someone to be your health care agent, usually some one you trust, who will be authorized to make medical and health care decisions, (medical treatment, care provider and environment) on your behalf.

No matter what your age is or how long you expect to be in good health or to be alive planning for your health care in event of a medical health crisis is a priority. Give yourself a voice. For many of us it is very difficult to talk to ones we love about events that we do not want to see as possible or inevitable. Talking to those you love about what to do in event of a medical health crisis is important even though it is impossible to foresee every event or circumstance. Bringing in your family and friends into process will help you get a feeling for who may be best able and willing to support decisions that are import ant for you.

When talking about your decisions it is important to consider your values and beliefs, as this is very personal. Advance Directives can be changed as your health circumstance changes. With age and change in life style habits our physical bodies may be prone to certain disease progression or debilitating impairments of one kind or another. So reviewing and updating your advance directives is important.

When my nephew was 2 years old (he’s now 10), I offered to babysit him one day a week so I could develop a relationship with him. I’d missed out on doing this with previous 5 nieces and nephews to a large extent so I didn’t want to miss out on this one. This little boy had already captured my heart but I wanted more. Well, I’ll tell you, I got more! He has always been very intelligent, not to mention that he was TWO. You mommies all know what that means, right?

You moms are all going to laugh, because although I’m eldest of six children and very capable of diaper changing and feeding, I had no idea what to actually “do” with him all day. I kept thinking how do women get anything done when they have children around? That first day I was wiped out tired when his parents picked him up because I just assumed that a toddler needed constant entertaining.

We played with his toys which took up about 10 minutes, went outside to look at plants and tell him names of flowers, and my golden retriever joined in but that took maybe another 15 minutes. I had only 6 ½ hours to go! The diaper changing took up a bit of time (I was rusty), and meal time was interesting trying to understand what he did and didn’t like – I was fooled. Then I decided, well I need a moment to rest, I’ll play some music! That was key to a very enjoyable summer of learning to interact with my nephew and develop our own special relationship.

One of first things I did was shorten hours I had him with me! I wanted to get to know him, NOT become a surrogate mom. We finally got a routine down where we listened to music and danced together. It was such great fun and we both laughed and enjoyed that. I participated with his parents in potty training phase – something I don’t feel need to do again but was a good lesson for me to learn. I learned he liked “macky cheese” for lunch and of course, since I am auntie, he got special chocolate snacks too. That made nap time even more difficult since he wasn’t ever and still isn’t napping sort. How could anyone nap with all that sugar in them anyway??