Mark discusses “A Cup of Tea on the Commode” with FireBreathinRob on his podcast.

Time with Teepa – What’s special about male caregivers. Meet a son, Mark Steven Porro, author of “A Cup of Tea on the Commode,” who was on this journey and made a difference in his mother’s life.

On September 12, Mark Steven Porro shared “A Cup of Tea” stories, tips, and laughs LIVE with Chris on the ever popular Chris Voss Show.

Mark joins Colton Perry to discuss "A Cup of Tea on the Commode" on his Just Dumb Enough podcast. We all go about our lives knowing that time will catch up with us, but it never ceases to surprise when we get the call that an aging loved one suddenly needs more help than they can afford. What can you do? What's should you do? Let's learn one option right now.

Mark Steven Porro joins Nancy May to discuss "A Cup of Tea on the Commode" on Doing It Best with Eldercare Success where we explore ways to relieve the stress, exhaustion and overwhelm that we all face in caring for an aging parent, frail spouse, or partner. Fear, frustration, emotional and financial strain do not have to be your MO!

This interview with host Don McCauley first aired on July 4, 2023.

John A. Daly interviews Mark Steven Porro author of "A Cup of Tea on the Commode: A son't multi-tasking Adventures of Caring for Mom. And How He Survived to Tell the Tale."

This is the opening chapter of my memoir "A Cup of Tea on the Commode."

When I first embarked on this journey, my mother had many visions. Most were light, some dark, and others damn entertaining. But the one she saw most often and described in such detail was of a parade of well-dressed children who marched down Emmett Place and passed by her bedroom window. The girls held flowers, a single stem, or a bouquet, including her favorite, daisies. The boys held colorful balloons that bobbed in the wind. This parade also plays an integral role throughout A Cup of Tea on the Commode.   While editing the manuscript, my sister Caryl, out of the blue, sent me a batch of old black and white photos. One caught my attention. It captured Mom, eight years old, dressed in a frilly white dress, wearing patent leather shoes, sitting on a bench, with a flower in her hand. I don’t recall ever seeing that photo before, but I couldn’t help thinking that serendipity played a role in its timely arrival. This young Genevieve fit in perfectly with Mom’s parade, which left me no choice but to feature it on the cover.  The handwritten title adds a soft touch and hints at the intimacy of the stories within. A pattern of daisies, her favorite flower, fills the background and reinforces the warm invitation to join me on my multitasking adventures of caring for Mom.

A son's multi-tasking adventures of caring for Mom. And he survived to tell the tale.  The parent/child role reversal might not have been unique to me, but how I dealt with it was. A Cup of Tea on the Commode chronicles my adventures filling my mother’s last years with love, laughter, and joy. Though not always successful, I came pretty damn close.

This episode explains the story behind the cover but to see it, please visit our website at acupofteaonthecommode.org.

Lots of people have asked why I titled my memoir A Cup of Tea on the Commode. So, I’ll do my best to explain.

My mother’s first attempt at dying, the first I knew of anyway, occurred nine days after her eighty-ninth birthday. I was living a carefree bachelor life, no children, few responsibilities outside of work, but that all changed when the call came. Weeks later, when she decided to come back to life, I decided to move from the dry heat of Los Angeles back to the high humidity of New Jersey to take over her care. My first task was to remove all hazards; which included the current caretakers. After, I asked my mom, “Do you trust me?” She whispered, “Yes.” “Do you understand I will do everything in my power to keep you healthy and safe?” She nodded. “That means I’m in charge. And that means you must obey me.” Her mood shifted in an instant. She looked me dead in the eye and puckered up her lips. I wasn’t sure if this was a sign of surrender or one wishing me luck. I kissed her and hoped for the best. The parent/child role reversal was not unique to me, but how I dealt with it was. A Cup of Tea on the Commode chronicles my multi-tasking adventures of filling Mom’s last years with love, laughter, and joy. Though not always successful, I came pretty damn close. Stay tuned for excerpts from my memoir, A Cup of Tea on the Commode.