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The Maria Shriver Interview / (Page 1 of 3)
Helping Kids Cope:
An Interview with Maria Shriver
Maria’s book, What’s Happening to Grandpa?, shines a
light on the challenges faced by families dealing with Alzheimer’s disease and how they can best
create communication between the involved generations.
Maria, a New York Times bestselling author whose other books include: What’s Wrong
With Timmy?, What’s Heaven?, Ten Things I Wish I’d Known Before I Went Out Into The Real World, And
One More Thing Before You Go, and Just Who Will You Be?: Big Question, Little Book, Answer Within,
sat down with Editor-in-Chief Gary Barg prior to the passing of her parents, Robert Sargent Shriver, Jr.
and Eunice Kennedy Shriver, to talk about her work for family caregivers.
Gary Barg:
Was there a moment when you first
knew that your father was living
with Alzheimer’s disease?
Maria Shriver:
I didn’t have a specific moment in
time. I think like anybody in this
situation, as your parents get
older, you become more aware that
certain things aren't the way they
used to be. When he was diagnosed
with Alzheimer's, we just all came
together and said, "Okay, what do we
do, how do we handle this the best
way we can, how do we handle this as
a family, how do we support Dad the
best we can?" You just go about
researching it and doing the best
you can, just like all the other
millions of families. The important
thing to realize is that no two
cases are alike, so no two families
travel the same road. What is right
for one family may not be right for
the other, and that doesn't mean
that one is better or worse than the
other.
GB:
You've had so many interesting jobs
and careers, first of all as a
mother, then as a First Lady, and as
a reporter and anchor; how does your
father’s illness fit in your daily
life?
MS:
I think when you have a parent who
has anything, who is dealing with
anything, that becomes your primary
focus in life. Your family, whether
it's your children, your spouse,
your parents, your siblings, is
always on your mind. I think that,
as with all women, I just try to
navigate each day the best I can.
Some days are more child-intensive,
other days are more
husband-intensive, and sometimes
more parent-intensive. You ask for
God's grace and for His help. I try
to move forward, and the role of
first lady or reporter doesn't
really tie into my day-to-day life.
I try to be a reporter at all times
to learn what I can, and talk to as
many people as I can when I'm given
an assignment about it; but other
than that, you just go through your
life trying to do the best you can,
doing it elegantly, and with grace
and dignity. That's my motto.
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