Kristofko's husband, a banking executive, cared for her until his death in 1995. So come Fridays, Paladino and her two sisters, who both live in the Pittsburgh area, take turns making the two-hour commute to Portage. There they not only care for their mother, but also clean, shop and cook for the coming week. My sisters and I get along extremely well, which is amazing considering the stress. The sisters have families of their own, so the schedule takes both planning and flexibility.
Husbands have charge of the children who stay home.
In the Paladinos' case, the youngest child makes the commute with mom. Cub Scout leader, homeroom mom, fund-raising chairwoman for the middle school. Occasionally she looks in on her in-laws, one of whom has Alzheimer's disease. Yes, it's difficult and it requires sacrifice on my part and my family's.