There are plenty of difficult moments in helping to care for my sister, but there are funny ones too.
Lately I’ve been encouraging Jo to start wearing her compression stockings again. She hadn’t worn them for a few weeks after getting some grazing on one of her calves and wanted to give her legs a break. Unfortunately, her legs have been getting puffier, so Mum and I have been gently encouraging her to think about wearing them again.
Jo mentioned that perhaps she needed a larger size.
Her previous stockings were 2XL, so when I discovered that Everstride had brought out some rather nice pastel-coloured bamboo compression stockings, I sent her the link.
“Maybe try the 3XL this time,” I suggested.
This morning I received a text from Jo.
She had ordered them herself!
I was genuinely pleased. Jo had taken the initiative, followed the link and organised something for herself.
Then I noticed the size.
XL.
I stared at the message for a moment.
The 2XL stockings are too tight, so naturally the solution is… XL.
I decided not to say anything.
I simply went online and ordered a few pairs in 3XL.
Sometimes caring for someone means advocating, organising, encouraging, worrying and knowing when to step in.
And sometimes it just means quietly ordering the 3XL.