Life with Pop: Lessons on Caring for an Aging Parent

Often when you read a book, the suspense of seeing how it will end keeps you going. When I began Life with Pop, a memoir of the five years during which the author served as the primary caregiver for her beloved and increasingly debilitated father, I knew how it would end. The deeply emotional suspense comes in discovering how the universal experience of aging is revealed through Janis Spring's unique relationship with her father. This award-winning author and acclaimed psychologist lets us in on the pathos of aging, sprinkled with humor, deep meaning, the realities of caregiver limitations and exhaustion in the constant tension that exists when choosing between self and other. Life with Pop bravely, honestly and sensitively witnesses the very humanity of the ancient question of what children owe parents, as they complete their cycle of love, obligation, guilt feelings and balance. Dr. Spring's last gift to her Pop is this beautifully written, moving memoir. We are all blessed to have it as well.

Life with Pop is a beautifully written account of a daughter's love for her aging father. It will appeal not only to those who have elderly parents, but to anyone who can appreciate a loving, heartwarming, tender story. I found it deeply moving, and a joy to read.

Life with Pop is a sensitive, heart and soul-baring glimpse into one daughter's caring journey through her father's declining years. Any child caring for an aging parent will relate to vignettes in this book, as Dr. Spring expresses her own fears, self-doubts and deep love for her sweet and loveable Pop. This book is a must-read for baby boomers whose parents have or will someday call on them to make decisions on their behalf, to fill their lonely days following the death of a spouse, to deal with doctors and caregivers, housing issues and the like. Kudos to Dr. Spring!

I really loved this book. It was very touching, thoughtful, and honest. It helps a lot when one is dealing with an aging parent, as she includes advice throughout the book on such matters through her own experience with her father. This book made me both laugh and cry. It is a touching testament to a father-daughter bond that we should all strive to have.

I laughed and cried my way through this book, turning each page with tremendous anticipation of the next vignette. Dr. Spring creatively, compassionately, and ever so candidly presents slices of life that children experience with aging parents. The reader joins the struggle of maintaining the delicate balance between protection and independence, not just for the parent but for the children and their partners. Dr. Spring makes a significant contribution to the self help literature by self disclosing her resentment, guilt, shame, and other negative feelings that she experienced while assuming the prime responsibility for her father. She doesn't just stop there, but offers alternative ways of thinking and handling sensitive and potentially volatile situations. These vignettes are juxtaposed with others that are quite humorous and heartwarming, reflecting Dr. Spring's unflagging love, devotion, and passionate quest to do the very best for her dad. This book will be enjoyed by readers who want to explore the harsh realities of care giving for their parents, along with creative suggestions for making the most out of this time of life. It will also be helpful to professionals who counsel people through these life challenges.