Parenting UP! Caregiving adventures with comedian J Smiles

Zetty throws J Smiles off with a request for a cell phone. What seems like a simple ask turns into a quest for the holy grail.  For Zetty, J soon realizes it is a dignity issue too.

J Smiles takes lis…

Alzheimer's disease is very mysterious. Caregivers are often guessing what their LO's (loved ones) are feeling, experiencing, etc. CG's live a life of magical charades.

The first time ALZ shows up in…

Chef Angela (Angela Gorham) joins J Smiles for an in-the-trenches-right-now-conversation. Like J, she is single, childless and her mom's full-time caregiver. Another commonality, another's death made…

J Smiles lets listeners meet another main "crew" member,  a major supporter on her journey as a caregiver, Monica Cost. Interestingly, their bond started as adults through civic board membership.  Bu…

Caregivers experience quite a few dark, negative emotions. Often they are ashamed to shared such feelings aloud. J Smiles tackles frustration in hopes of normalizing this "negative" expression.

She u…

Caregivers experience a tsunami of emotions. Positive, negative, neutral, unspeakable.

J Smiles tackles resentment. She uses very specific examples of pain and purpose to expose her journey of uncove…

Routine does not mean regular when it comes to doctors office visits for Zetty. Much to J Smiles dismay, these common appointments are quite eventful.

Ever the observant comedic advocate, J Smiles gi…

Quirky, honest storytelling. J Smiles files solo recounting a series of unrelated true events that remind us it will all be okay in the end, one way or another. Each memory spotlights how simple slip…

Choices and options are celebrated all over the world. Everyday we are encouraged to expand more, try more, do more. We are trained to avoid boredom at all cost. And definitely never become too bland…

J Smiles moves swiftly to shed light on a normalized bias in the United States that really irks her. The legal marginalization of the elderly. She gives examples of how lawmakers and policy pushers h…

J Smiles lets listeners meet one of her main crew members, one her biggest supporters on her journey as a caregiver, Christine Beatty. Their bond started as members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc…

Faced with an awful trifecta, J Smiles and Zetty must quarantine for two weeks with zero additional caregivers. The stress is compounded when Zetty returns from the hospital less healthy than when sh…

J Smiles pours out her heart in this episode.  Believing Zetty has a simple Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), she is forced to call 911.  It turns out to be much more serious. The ER presents one obstac…

J Smiles addresses the nightmare dilemma every caregiver faces sooner or later... whether or not to use 911 (or another emergency medical service). The decision is compounded by the dementia person's…

J Smiles' completes the two part conversation with Dr. Sandea Greene-Harris, neurosurgeon and caregiver. Dr. Sandy clears up a common misconception of dementia. The two share personal stories of prio…

J Smiles begins the two part conversation with Dr. Sandea "Dr. Sandy" Greene-Harris.  Dr. Sandy was introduced to you in Ep 1 and now you get to hear why this neurosurgeon was uniquely situated to be…

J Smiles shares how the stress of caregiving created physical sickness landing her at the hospital. Plus, she walks you through her journey of grief as a caregiver for Zetty, who has Alzheimer's.  

Su…

J Smiles' conversation with DeWanda Smith, The Zetty Whisperer, continues with more comical stories and more tips. DeWanda's easy going manner shines through as an excellent approach to administering…

Zetty's first, and best caregiver, joins J Smiles to recount, relive and laugh. Listen to  DeWanda Smith, the Zetty whisperer, share how and why she became a caregiver after retiring from the corpora…

Zetty requires 24/7 care and J Smiles is clueless as to how to provide it. J Smiles gets ideas and suggestions from internet searches and a childhood friend. Undaunted and overwhelmed, J Smiles traip…