That space between realization that change is required and putting that change in place is always a tiring time. What happens is that you grapple with a situation looking for the right combination of efforts and support. Then, all of a sudden, you recognize what the situation requires, but it takes time to put that solution in place. The time between recognizing what will work and putting that solution in place is often frustrating. For example after grappling with a situation related to my loved one's care for months now, I finally recognize the kind of change that needs to happen. Yet, I'll have to endure a few weeks of extensive care taking duties before that change can be put in place. I'm not looking forward to that because it is difficult, emotional work that I'm not skilled at, trained for, or frankly, interested in. It's very, very difficult work that I wouldn't mind doing with a team in a place set-up for that kind of work, but the level of improvisation needed and the loneliness of the work repels me--I can't do this work anymore without the proper supports and a sense of team. I've reached the tipping point.
Up until this moment, there's been a fair and appropriate level of teamwork, but as the work became more extensive, confusing, and frustrating, the team broke down mostly because we are not skilled for this level of intense emotional and physical work--it is tough work, work that most are not prepared for. And when people face a high level of emotional, physical, challenging work, they react in multiple ways. If possible, some try to get the skill and support to do the work. Others simply avoid the situation, and still more try to lead from the background telling people what to do, but not engaging in the work themselves. All of these responses have some merit, but none do the job needed which in this case is a skilled team approach to a deep level of extensive care.
So how will I weather this transition time? What will I do?
First, I'll do what I can to provide the needed care by organizing the environment, finding others who can support me in this effort, and ensuring that the transition efforts stay on track since up to now the transition efforts have taken way too long for lots of reasons--some known and some unknown.
Next, if the transition does not happen as expected, I'll have to seek a new team of caretakers to make the transition happen since the situation must change.
Creating some kind of framework to make the challenging transition work occur will help. Onward.