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Written By: Lily Roth
life To g e T h e r - oc T/no V 2010
Reader’s Review
Written By: Alice Brubacher, Church Librarian
e “Our Turn to Parent: Shared
Experiences and Practical Advice on Caring
for Aging Parents in Canada” (by Barbara
Dunn and Linda Scott)
The senior years of life receive much
attention in literature and news media.
A tremendous amount of information
is spread across many sources including
government agencies, community services,
medical and financial institutions and the
Internet. Often retrieving necessary and
practical information is a confusing, timeconsuming
and overwhelming process. The
authors’ hope is that in their book readers will
discover a resource to reduce the confusion.
Each chapter covers a major caregiving issue
and offers practical information as well as tips,
resources and personal stories.
The fact that it’s “your turn to parent”
doesn’t suggest that your mother or father has
suddenly become a child. Rather, you will try
When I was younger, my parents
(Daryl Roth and Stephanie
Kramer) told me that I was to do
some kind of sport, as to have some kind
of physical activity. Now, I’m not really
the sort of person who enjoys sports that
much, but when the idea of taking dance
lessons was suggested I was all for it. So,
I started dance at the age of four in Pre-
Primary Ballet at Contemporary School of
Dance. It was a good choice. I have since
made numerous good friends, taken on
jazz as well as ballet and have had so much
fun in the process.
Dance is intense and exciting, and yet
it is still relaxing and calming. It takes a
lot of concentration and lots of hard work.
Most of my dance classes are late at night
and often are quite exhausting.
My emotions greatly affect the way I
dance; if I’m feeling bad I typically don’t
want to go to dance, but as soon as I’m
there I feel much better; seeing my friends
and moving distract me and long after
Expressions ... inspired creativity.
I’m still feeling great! It works the other
way too. I can go to dance feeling great
and by the end I’m feeling horrible, either
from exhaustion or from a disagreement
between friends and such. But overall
dance doesn’t usually affect my emotions
too much; I’m generally delighted to
go there and still remain in high spirits
afterwards.
I have accomplished so much in dance,
entering Grade 6 Ballet and Intermediate
Foundations Jazz this year and getting
a merit for my first ever ballet exam last
year, as well as taking part in ten end of
the year recitals.
Dance is probably one of the greatest
things that has happened to me, I will
never regret it.
“There is a time for everything, a time for every activity
under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die,”
(Ecclesiastes 3:1,2)
Dance is the
hidden language of the soul.
~ Martha Graham (1894-1991),
American dancer and choreographer.
to embody the attributes of a good parent in
order to communicate and work through all
the questions and emotions of these evolving
situations. There are a variety of check lists
such as questions to ask when choosing
assistive devices, e.g. canes and walkers, or
when touring prospective care facilities. The
procedure in Ontario for gaining admission into
long-term care facilities is explained in detail
(see Chapter 5). In chapters 6 and 7 medical
issues, financial and legal issues are dealt with.
The book ends with a comprehensive Senior
and Caregiver Resource Guide.
In addition, these two picture books may be
very helpful when small children are part of
family units involved in the above transitions:
e “My Little Grandmother Often Forgets”
(by Reeve Lindbergh)
e “What’s Happening to Grandpa”
(by Maria Shriver).
“Th e wo r k S ar e Th i n e o ch r i S T, ou r lo r d”
SJMC - 7