The Woman in the Mirror: Where Are We Going?

Dayna Steele's Rock Star Principles

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Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help Dayna reach more rock stars like you.

For the next ten weeks, Rock Star Principles creator Dayna Steele is excited to introduce you to her new project…

THE WOMAN IN THE MIRROR is a new play based on Texas Radio Hall of Famer and entrepreneur Dayna Steele’s 2016 book, Surviving Alzheimer’s With Friends, Facebook and a Really Big Glass of Wine. In this best-selling caregiver’s memoir, Steele candidly chronicled her mother’s journey with Alzheimer’s on Facebook with unfiltered observations and dark humor.

The Woman in the Mirror, a dark comedy, will premiere at MATCH in Houston, Texas November 4-14 with a limited run of 12 performances.

With the 2020 COVID lockdown, the live play was postponed and was instead performed as a 10-episode series of table reads with the director, creator, and an actor. Each series ended with Dayna interviewing an expert about some facet of dealing with Alzheimer’s and other forms of Dementia. Leading up to opening night, you will be able to listen to those table reads here.

These podcast episodes, the table read series, and the live performances are written by caregivers and performed for caregivers and those who love them with love, laughter, and wine. Lots of wine.

There are only four kinds of people in the world: those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those who will need caregivers.

- Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter

IN THIS EPISODE…

If there’s one thing I’ve noticed about this horrific disease, it’s this: Alzheimer’s has a way to revert a person’s personality back to child-like (and even toddler-like) behaviors. From mood swings and temper tantrums to repeatedly asking “Where are we going?” - people with Alzheimer’s often tend to manifest behaviors that closely resemble what parents call the ‘Terrible 2’s’ for toddlers.

And it appears now, we are entering the toddler stage… with Mom’s Terrible 2’s rearing their ugly head.

The expert interview following this episode features the Co-Producer of The Woman in the Mirror. Melissa Stevens. She is the widow of radio legend Mark Stevens of KLOL Stevens and Pruett fame and was the first person I reached out to when I began Mom’s journey with Alzheimer’s. Melissa shares the ups and downs she experienced while being Mark’s caregiver. We discuss Mark’s earlier symptoms and why early signs are often overlooked by friends and loved ones. She shares the defining moment when she realized something more serious was wrong and when she knew it was time for Mark to see a doctor. She explains why she decided to keep her husband home instead of using an assisted living facility and why she still questions whether she made the right decision. We also discuss how friends often ‘evaporate’ after a loved one’s diagnosis with Alzheimer’s and why it’s crucial for caregivers to set aside time to focus on their own self-care.

“Here’s a simple explanation of this horrific disease: You go from birth to infant to toddler to teenager to adult when you’re growing up. And when the ‘long goodbye’ starts - you go from adult to teenager to toddler to infant to the end.” - Dayna Steele

This week on Rock Star Principles:

Mom’s ‘second phase’ of the Terrible Twos
Mom’s feeling of loneliness - despite all the people and activities at her assisted living home
Cherishing the time we have with loved ones
Mom’s “where are we going?’ phase and her astounding perception of certain things
Refraining from arguing or correcting Mom and why it was one of the hardest things to do throughout this journey
Mom’s love of Girl Scout Cookies… and her love of sneaking them out of my pantry
Mom’s second move and my ‘Fuck You Comcast Cable” Facebook post
Melissa’s experience with being her husband’s caregiver
Why we believe early signs of Alzheimer’s are often overlooked by close friends and loved ones
The transition from ‘Rain Man-like tendencies’ to progressive cognitive deterioration
The defining moment for Melissa when she knew something more serious was wrong
Why you should never talk about an Alzheimer’s patient in front of them as if they’re not there - regardless of what stage they’re in
Mark’s feeling of ‘losing his mind’ during his Alzheimer’s journey
Taking comfort in the fact that you’re doing the best you can in a difficult situation
How friends often ‘evaporate’ after an Alzheimer’s diagnosis
The importance of self-care as a caregiver