In Part 3 of this bonus series, host Jackee de Lagarde discusses acceptance and how it became one of the hardest lessons she has encountered in caregiving.

It doesn't happen overnight, and it doesn't mean you've given up. It means you've stopped fighting the reality you didn't choose so you can focus on what matters most.

In this deeply personal bonus episode, Jackee reflects on the emotional shift from asking, "Why me?" to asking, "How do I move forward?" She shares what she's learned after caring for her mother since 2021, the grief that comes with watching someone change over time, and how acceptance has helped her find peace in a role she never expected to have.

This bonus episode explores:

• Why acceptance is not the same as giving up
• Letting go of the life you thought you would have
• Living with anticipatory grief
• Why trying to control caregiving is an illusion
• Releasing unrealistic expectations
• The identity shift that comes with becoming a caregiver
• Finding purpose, community, and peace

If you've been struggling to accept your caregiving journey, this bonus episode is a reminder that acceptance isn't surrender. It's choosing how you show up, one day at a time.

Caregivers become experts at asking for help for everyone except themselves.

They schedule appointments, advocate, coordinate, solve problems, and carry enormous emotional weight. But when it comes to asking for support, many stay silent.

In Episode 7, Iris Coker shares her experience balancing long distance caregiving, career, and family while navigating guilt, grief, and the pressure to always be strong.

Together, we discuss:

• Why caregivers struggle to ask for help
• The hidden weight of long distance caregiving
• Giving yourself permission to accept grace
• How supportive managers and coworkers can make all the difference

And much more..

Sometimes the most important thing a caregiver needs is someone to simply say, "You don't have to do this alone."

There are critical moments in caregiving that don’t get discussed enough.

It starts with the before, then the during, and the after. This episode not only addresses those three stages, but what happens when you get through these stages with one loved one, and begin the process again with another.

In Episode 6 of Who Cares About Me?, we hear from Alex Fenech, Founder & CEO of Closure, a business designed to help people prepare for and navigate both pre- and post-loss moments with clarity and confidence. Alex experienced the painful loss of loved ones and the administrative challenges that come along with being a caregiver, all while balancing a career, motherhood and life's daily responsibilities.

Alex shares what happens before, during, and after caregiving, and how those experiences inspired her to create Closure. Together, we discuss anticipatory grief, accepting support, preparing for the inevitable, and starting the process all over again. We also discuss preparing documents and organizing your life, and how this act is one of the most important gifts you can leave your family.