Exclusive Interview: Rebecca McClanahan Reveals the Hidden Inspirations Behind "Light Falls On Everything"
RM: I’ve heard many people say that caregiving allowed them—maybe forced them—to see their family members in a different light. I’m not sure if I’d call either of my parents’ dementia a gift—at least not for them, as the accompanying difficulties were often so hard for them to bear. But yes, I understand your student’s comment. By accepting the help I offered, my parents gave me a great gift. For most of us, it’s not easy to admit our need and dependency, and it takes a great deal of courage and grace to accept help. As for learning about their childhoods, my case is probably an outlier; years before, while I was writing and researching The Tribal Knot, I’d had numerous interviews and conversations with both parents about their early lives. However, I would agree that the physical and emotional intimacy of the caregiving experience served to draw us even closer than we’d been before.
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