I am firmly rooted in the “I can’t do that anymore” stage of life. “ICDTA” is a stage of life in which self-realization is at its peak. Things like drinking coffee after lunch or too much hot sauce with dinner will have unintended consequences for a guy like me.
My theory is when enough “I can’t do’s” add up, you will mentally rebel into the well-known and accepted “Mid-Life Crisis.”
Following the Mid-Life Crisis, life should settle down until you enter the next, more dangerous stage. My brother coined it as the “why won’t this print” years.
The hallmark of these years is pure anger toward technology and everyone around you trying to help. In fact, for some, “WWTP” is so pervasive that there have been cell phone manufacturers whose only mission is to create phones for angry boomers like my dad. #jitterbug
The remaining life stages from this point on will have varying amounts of anger, such as the “angry news watching” stage.
For our extraordinary families, unfortunately, there is another stage. No silly names are involved. In this stage, as caretakers for our loved ones, we, as parents or guardians, will need help. Whether driving, lifting, or general daily living activities for our child and ourselves, it will become difficult without assistance.
I refer to this time in our life as the “Village Stage”—when our daily or weekly routine can no longer be managed alone.
Many people ask, “what can we do to prepare”?
Let’s start by accepting that this day will come and not blaming yourself for it. We are all living organisms, and time is a matter of fact. Secondly, talk about it. Conversation with friends, family, and professionals can help better define your village for when the time comes. Finally, start early. This process is a discovery; trial and error is part of the process.
In a previous post, I discussed the “Time Value of Mommy” and how we calculate it. TVM is a crucial step in the preparation for the Village Stage.
Ability Wealth Group’s SustainAbility Planning process can help support families as they transition through life’s stages, well, maybe not so much with the printer issues.