About this episode

The episode explores the absurdities and logistical challenges of caring for aging parents while reflecting on personal experiences.

My mom was in the hospital. ICU-level hospital. I knew she was going to be fine — but I also hadn't slept, and I was running on that specific kind of fuel that is equal parts functional and completely frayed. I had a lot of feelings. I did not share most of them. Instead, I asked her the question that actually mattered: how charged is your phone? This episode is about what happens when the people who raised us start needing us to show up — and how that experience is mostly logistical problem-solving interrupted by moments of genuine, unhinged absurdity. My mom had three separate envelopes of cash stuffed into various corners of her purse. She also had a small pouch of Equal packets. She let me take all the cash. She did not let me take the Equal. Barely ambulatory. Still ready to fight about artificial sweetener. I also robbed my 9-year-old's piggy bank for a valet tip. Her grandmother paid her back. I stayed out of that transaction entirely. Alison brings a question from Josh and Casey Mo, who feel like they're either all in or completely checked out — no middle gear — and it's starting to affect their relationships. I have thoughts. Mostly: please go talk to a clinician. Also…

People in this episode

Host: Lauren Howard

Topics covered

• family dynamics
• mental health
• absurdity in caregiving
• logistical problem-solving

Keywords

• hospital
• ICU
• cash
• Equal packets
• vacuum cleaner obsession
• Oscars
• Conan O'Brien

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Equal, AirPods, vacuum cleaner

Books & works: Different, Not Broken

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