Return to Joy

Part family memoir and part "how-to," this book reveals how the mysteries, challenges, grief and humor of dementia transformed the lives of two sisters and their family as they consciously chose to step into their demented mother's reality, as opposed to forcing her to live in a world in which she no longer belonged. In this honest examination of the complexities of the mother-daughter relationship, Charlotte and Virginia Parker honor the wisdom of ancient mysteries, mythologies, and expressions of the soul at work in their lives while caring for their mother. They come to the realization that life itself is ultimately a mystery in which we all find ourselves alternately participating and witnessing while bringing out the best and worst of us with its joys and its sorrows, its ugliness and its beauty but ultimately always returning to joy. If you have a mother, you need to read this book.