Love, Loss, and Letting Go ... Caring for Our Aging Parents (Your Thursday Three Things for August 14, 2025)
Jon Macaskill
Retired Navy SEAL Commander🔹Men Talking Mindfulness Podcast Cohost (number 3 mindfulness podcast in the world!) 🔹Keynote Speaker🔹Entrepreneur Through Acquisition 🔹 Striving to be a Better Dad and Husband!
If you’re lucky, you’ll grow old. If you’re truly lucky, you’ll grow old while your parents are still here.
But that also means there may come a time when the roles begin to reverse … when you become the one offering care, guidance, and support to the people who once did the same for you.
It’s one of life’s most tender leadership tests, and it comes without a manual.
From my family's own experiences (admittedly, mostly my sisters') and the wisdom shared in a recent conversation, here are three insights for anyone navigating (or preparing to navigate) this season:
1. Presence matters more than perfection. You will stumble. You’ll lose patience. You’ll wish you’d said or done something differently. But those moments pale in comparison to the gift of just being there. A hand held. A shared laugh. A quiet afternoon together. These moments matter more than flawless execution.
2. Let yourself grieve along the way. The final goodbye isn’t the only loss. There are dozens of smaller ones … the hobbies they give up, the memories that fade, the independence that slips away. Don’t dismiss your emotions OR theirs because “it’s not the end yet.” Grieving in real time helps you stay compassionate and present.
3. You can’t pour from an empty cup. If you burn yourself out caring for someone else, you risk resentment, exhaustion, and illness. Taking care of yourself isn’t selfish … it’s essential. Schedule time to recharge, even if it’s a short walk, a workout, or a coffee with a friend.
If you’ve been here before, you know how complex this is … the mix of love, responsibility, fear, and gratitude. And if you haven’t yet, there’s value in preparing your heart and mind now.
We share more practical strategies and personal reflections on this in our recent discussion with David Valadez. You can catch the full conversation here: 🎧 Listen here 📺 Watch here
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- Self-taught training.
1moIt's a tough time. May the Lord give me strength
Fmr. Global Air Logistics Specialist II TL at FedEx
1moWhile I agree with being there . The conversation needs to include that with laws , we need to ensure that we can be there for them. Sometimes , the choice is made by the parent ( for whatever reason ) to choose one in the moment and not thinking long term. People need to read up on Power of Attorney and Guardianships. Saving a parent from a person whom they chose ( whom ended up doing them harm ) because you were the voice or reason and integrity , and the other was the voice they wanted to hear. This is what makes it all worse. Sometimes you deal with challenges when there was no designated choice. Just wanted to share to spare heartbreak from my experiences.
Rides and attractions host MOTIONGATE™ Dubai
1moThanks for sharing, Jon
Indianapolis Home Care & Home Health Founder & Registered Nurse | Compassionate Family Care | Dementia, Senior & Disability Specialist
1moThis reframe of caregiving as leadership without a manual is so helpful. It honors both the difficulty and the privilege of walking alongside our aging parents with intention and love.
CEO and Founder of AccuHire.com, specializing in Hiring, Retention and Engagement strategies.
1moI consider it an honor to thank my parents for helping me become the person I am today. They never gave up on me.