On being a "surrogate daughter"

In the past few weeks several of my clients have referred to me as their "surrogate daughter". Their real daughters have echoed this sentiment by calling me their "surrogate sister". I can't tell you how honored I am to claim that title. To me it connotes trust, responsibility and love all key ingredients in caring for an aging parent. My job is to assist adult children in the care of their aging parents when their work, family or long distance prevents them from being there. So not only do I perform neccesary tasks, I do it with compassion and care. You see my 'job' is more than that. It is a calling. This is what I do, but more important this is who I am.