The Caregiver Chaos Score: a quiz with Aunty Pat

Someone at work asks how your mom is doing.

You say, "She's fine, thanks." You leave out the pharmacy order you placed at 2 AM, the call that came in during your big meeting, and the cane that now lives in the umbrella stand, looking very decorative.

Aunty Pat has heard the short version before. She'd like the real one.

Seven questions you already know the answers to

The questions are the ones people don't usually ask you. Would your parent tell you if they fell? When does the phone ring, and is it ever about something that matters? What did your siblings actually do this year? When did you last see a doctor about you?

The answer choices sound like things caregivers really say. "Everyone's still alive." "One helpful article. From very far away." "I'm not allowed to get sick. There's no backup."

You'll probably laugh at a few. You might also sit on one a bit longer than you expected. Both are fine.

Meet Aunty Pat

Aunty Pat is the aunt who has seen it all and tells you so. She rolls her eyes, she smirks, and now and then she nearly faints. She has something to say about every answer, and somehow she's always on your side.

With her there, the quiz feels less like filling in a form and more like telling someone the real version. You get a raised eyebrow and a hug in the same breath.

Your score, your card, one chance to yell

At the end you land on one of five levels: Suspiciously Fine, Mildly Frazzled, In The Thick Of It, Running On Fumes or Certified Chaos. Some answers also earn you a badge, like Head Of IT or Night Pharmacist.

You get a score card to share. The sibling who always says "let me know if you need anything" might be a good place to start.

And yes, there's one chance to yell. If you want to, the quiz asks for your microphone, and Aunty Pat takes it from there.

Take the quiz