I've been thinking that some of the discussions we need to share involve bodily functions that we rarely ever talk about in polite society. And I think sometimes we struggle for the right words to say when we're trying to talk about these subjects.
We're all aware of the street language that expresses the bodily functions, and we're also aware of the clinical terms that define the same functions. And yet somewhere in between those is a set of words that we use where there are children and within our families.
Someone recently use the term #2 in talking about taking care of their husband. And they immediately followed that by “sorry”. I personally don't think we need to be sorry when we are talking about things that need to be shared. I personally use the term BM, or poop when I'm discussing the same subject. I suspect that none of those who find ourselves in this position ever thought we would be doing the toileting jobs required to take care of a partner with dementia. And as we perform those tasks each of us probably finds ways that make it easier to do. I believe it's important to share those things.
Perhaps in this discussion we could share words that work best for each of us. Then as we continue in other replies and discussions, we can use words that others find acceptable.
