When I heard the word hospice, I lost my footing when I experienced a STUG (Sudden Temporary Upsurge of Grief). Since then, I've had time to process and accept that mom's prognosis is much shorter than expected. It took several shower weeping sessions to get me here. Thankfully, I'm back in the tidal rhythm of grief that we caregivers live with, with all its ebbs and flows. I'm differentiating between giving up and letting go, and while I'm not ready to say good-bye, I'm loosening my grip which is the first step to setting our loved ones free. Even though this week has been a struggle, I still believe we can find joy and remain hopeful while learning to let go.