The Day The Roles Reversed

As a child no matter what age your parent will always think of you as their baby!

I became a caregiver in October 2004 to my mother who was diagnosed with dementia. The fear of the

responsibility of making sure medicines were taken correctly, all the finances were handled, and most

important my mother was comfortable.

It was determined that she would live with my sister and within two months realizing that was overwhelming

and a group home would be best with 24 hour care. Since I worked from home it was also easier for

myself to be active within her daily care with visits, taking her out, and also monitoring her activities.


 I learned so much within the two years that she had relocated to California, There were new doctors to find,

adult daycare to locate, and still maintain her dignity as the parent. Yet our roles were reversing and I was

becoming the parent. I was bathing her, surprising her with stuffed animals and when she couldn't remember

who I was I didn't care what she called me . I asked her was she spoiled and her response was yes.

Who spoils you ?  Again her response was : You. I realized that though I had not had any children

and I wasn't married my full attention was on her. As she was reverting to be child like at times I didn't mind.

She was my baby and I was blessed to spoil her and take care of her. I laid in the hospital bed with her

and wrapped my arms around her. Protecting her from harm and singing gospel songs to her. If there was

anything she wanted I did my best to provide it for her. If she couldn't say what it was I felt it because of

our bond and provided it.

A fear of who would take care of her when I went on vacation and the anxiety didn't subside until I

returned.  As a caregiver it is literally what it means you're giving care to the one you're taken care of.

She has been gone for 13 years, the stuffed animals are tucked away, the nightgown is in the drawer.

The memory of the day the roles reversed is forever etched in my mind. She will always be my baby!

Biography of Patricia A. Saunders

Self Published Author, Patricia A. Saunders was born and raised in Connecticut before relocating to the San Francisco Bay Area nearly 26 years ago. She received her Master’s in Management from the University of Phoenix in 2011. After the passing of her mother who had Alzheimer’s, Patricia decided if she inherited the disease she wanted her words to be her legacy and that all the words that she kept to herself were to be released.

Her work has been featured on a Coast to Coast Book Tour at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, Toronto Word On The Street, Sacramento Black Book Fair, Tucson Book Festival, Miami International Festival of Books and AARP Life@50+ Spring Convention. Recently she was chosen among 100 authors from around the United States to participate in the Author’s Pavilion at the 2018 Congressional Black Caucus Convention in Washington, DC.

She is a monthly blogger of her own blog Blessed & Curvy who covers today’s hot topics. Also she is certified speaker with the Professional Woman Network for Women’s Issues & Diversity.

She released her first self published book Through the Fire (March 2012) which covered emotions from situations, circumstances, and life lessons that have influenced her over her lifetime. On a mission to complete a book a year in case she inherits the ugly disease she released her second book Loving Me (2013) and third Let It Rain (2014) which is also self published and covers various topics from love, grief, self image, self esteem, bullying, and discovery of self love .Her fourth book (2016) This Too Shall Pass was released by AuthorHouse Publishing and readers have given it a five star rating. The book was inspired from three note cards she received after the passing of her mother when she felt like giving up on life, on the brink of losing her home and being unemployed that encouraged her to live for those who loved her. Her fifth book was released by Book Baby Publishing (2017) There Is Sunshine After The Rain a non-fiction novel that includes poetry is birthed after the tenth anniversary of her Mother’s passing, the reality that with every lesson that she has experienced through life that there is a reason, there are tests that all are faced with, but it’s how you respond. Saunders chose poetry and nonfiction to let the readers know the thought process behind the poetry, tools to help others who may face the same circumstances, and it builds a relationship further between the author and those reading her words.

Patricia is a Supervisor in Silicon Valley, in her spare time she enjoys to travel, wine tasting, and spending time cooking for friends and family.