My mother has lived with us for 3 years now. She has her own apartment downstairs with a private entrance. She has severe hearing loss and hearing aids do not help much. She has a curvature in her spine, but was fine until she fell over 3 years ago and now does not trust her legs to hold her up. She has all but completely withdrawn from any interaction with the outside world. She will go to the grocery store weekly, but not much of anywhere else. My husband and I ask her continuously to go places with us, but she refuses. She uses her hearing as an excuse. She is afraid of everyone who comes to our house, and will leave the room if anyone comes over. She sets in the dark most times and does not talk to anyone except the dog. I'm an only child. I don't know what to do to help her. Should I try to contact her doctor and talk with them about how she chooses complete isolation?
My neighbor came over and mom happened to be in the garage he approached her about the van she has sitting in the driveway for the past year. Did she want to sell it? I thought oh no WWIII she's going to go on and on all day. She said she wouldn't know what to ask for it when we went to the store. I told her kelly blue book. She said i would have to go to the dealer, I said no the computer can get there. She hates the computer, never tried it but she hates it. So I SUPPOSE I will have to do something for her again, always me.
tennis, I am always asked why are you in a bad mood? we are unable to show any emotion but happiness, for what I still am trying to figure out. You have a right to be snippy, our lives are different from the others in our lives and they don't understand that. We have to make difficult choices and then second guess ourselves because it concerns a loved one. So keep up whatever attitude you want you are an adult.
Take the vacations or your children will resent you for it in the future, we deserve it. Or it maybe a nice prison cell next.
I am going to do something I regret the woman is driving me insane, I called the drs office that I requested dad's records from this morning and they had mailed them in the 14th haven't gotten them yet, they said give it til Monday and if we still haven't gotten them they will issue them again. SHE JUST CALLED THEM AGAIN. DIDN"T SHE HEAR ME!!!!
I don't want to live with her anymore. Judy
Marylynne
I'm here. This is the first time I have had to sit down and type in a few days. It has been a rough week. They moved dad out of ccu early this morning. They still are unable to control his heart rate and blood pressure. Lowest bold pressure today 60/49. What the hell? They moved him anyway. The case worker called me about moving him to a nursing home for rehab. She said one place had a bed for him today. I actually asked her if she was crazy!!!! WHAT IS WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE? My patients for stupidity is GONE! And others wonder why we freak out about others caring for our loved ones. I am really in the mood to throw a temper tantrum. Get it all out. Stomp my feet, yell, cry. Then maybe someone will wizen up! I need to stay away from them.
Sorry had to let it out.
I am so sorry Marylynne. I want you to find something to make you smile today. That alone would make the day worth it. Let your kids make you laugh. I will pray for you. Imagine me actually throwing a tantrum.
Cindi,
As my son would say, "you rock"
You are a good frined and are very supportive. Not everyone can do what we do. If complaining here get you through another day than so be it! I'm with you. We all need a place to go to let things out.
Donna,
Keep going! don't give up. We are here for you. We love you. You need rest. Close a door tell mom to BACK OFF! Laundry can all be pink, make wash day easier.(ha,ha) Dad is not allowed near washer or dryer. You are not being selfish, you are frustrated. YOU ARE ALLOWED!
Tennis,
Get snippy if you need to. It is ok to respect your parents as long as you get it back! It is when you don't get it that starts the trouble. Mom should not hold all the cards, let her know she dosen't have all the power.
Maggiesue,
My heart goes out to you. I will pray for you.
Love and best wishes,
Cathy
Mom slipped and fell in the tub this weekend. Didn't get hurt to badly though, thank goodness. I took everything her and I had to get her up though. My poor husband waited in the hall to see if he was going to have to come into see my wet naked mother in the tub and help her get out. I got her up, dried off, and put to bed. Then he came in to see how she was doing.
My Mom is coming to some realizations about her limitations..... They don't usually last more than a few days. I hope they stick this time.
Your story reminded me of a cooking story. My mom wanted to cook cabbage one day and usually she don't feel well enough to cook. Well I offered to cook it for her as long as she told me how. She got mad and told me the only reason i don't want her to cook is because she might mess up something. I wanted to say yes so badly, but I turned it around on her. I told her, you see, I just offered to do something for you out of the goodness of my heart and this is what I get.
She tried to kiss me and I told her don't try and make up now. The thermostat thing is a constant at my house. We live in Louisiana and its hot. The thermostat would stay on 80 if she had her way. My whole house sweats because of them. If she is hot than it needs to be cool, if she is cool, it needs to be hot.
When she moves in the addition, she can keep it on 80. She gets ice cubes day and night. The sound of the ice maker drives me crazy.
If my husband and I are talking, she says what? what did ya'll say? My husband tells her He is not talking to her. She hates him.
Busy day and all I want is stay home and lie down. Body doesn't feel great today. Haircut/color appt with new place, trying it to cut costs. Then taking parents around to hospital/medical records, then down to Hueneme 30 minutes away to buy some wild copper salmon (mother made arrangements with butcher yesterday, she says they only have it one time during the year), pet store for bird seeds, then to Cypress (her old senior residence) to watch the entertainment and visit some of her friend/aquaintances. Come home and cook that will be my day. Cancelled curves with girlfriend because I don't feel great and tired. Talk to you later...gonna take a drive for myself..
Hugs
Cindi
Yeah, I hear you Donna. I am down because my weight went back up again. Another surgery. Wish they could nip and tuck me everywhere!...LOL...Glad you are going down the street to visit your girlfriend. I am in my room now keeping away. Not in the mood. Drove by the beach early this am..but someone turned on their radio next to me in the parking lot and broke my harmony. I go there and park for a bit and watch the ocean...it calms me. So much for calm today!!!
ARgggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhh.....Let's all scream and yell..get it out~
Cindi
I told her that I will support her decisions, but i can't make them for her.
She got hot yesterday because the neighbor asked about her van. She told me she would sell it if she knew what to ask. So we pulled up kelly blue book value and she said its just going to sit there. I said we don't want you to lose money on it she got even hotter. So she must have felt bad later, weird.
Donna my mom is bored too, like it would be different anywhere else NOT! She thinks moving someplace else would be different, she would just sit in that house and nothing would be different. I think she needs a glass house so ppl know she's here.hahaha
Dinner, i dread it i get no help, I'm lucky if she sets the table. If she has to cook its a frozen meal.
take care today, Judy
waiting for husband to get back from walking dad and dog. Then dinner..after that I am free for the night..hmmm.
Have a good evening everyone
Cindi
This morning she has been calm as can be and very nice to me.....waiting for the next episode. luv donna
Same thing for her she doesn't really have to lift a finger here, except to do her laundry and clean her room. Don't you hate the snide remarks?
My husband and I finally get to go out tonight, we have our bowling banquet, dinner and dancing, really looking forward to it, have a few drinks and I love to dance. I will probably have to put something in the crockpot so they will have some dinner.
oxoxoxo Judy
Mom has had 9 back surgeries in the last 10 years. These have left her with very limited mobility. She has had her right shoulder joint removed because of a series of staff infections. In addition and as a result of the pain, she was a methadone(presciption) and percoset addict for a few years. She, Joan, has high bp, copd, conjestive heart failure, atrial fib, bad hearing which hearing aids don't help much, and a toy poodle named Gidget, her baby. She was a gardening maniac when she was younger and she has joined every old bitty club she could find that would allow her to feel superior: Daughters of the American Revolution, United Daughters of the Confederacy, Southern Dames of America, The Magna Carta. I mean no disrespect to anyone reading this posting and respect the clubs and what they represent but not when they are joined to put another notch in a belt. Dad was her taxi to all events and waited on her hand and foot. He was devoted to her and her every whim. They were the only ones alive for each other. Whatever made Mom happy made Dad happy. I miss him so much. She does too.
Daddy died almost three years ago from brain cancer. We kept him at home throughout all of it. He only lasted 6 months really once we got the diagnosis. Hospice was wonderful. Mom doesn't remember any of Daddy being sick. She does remeber the day that he died. He didn't want a funeral so we sprinkled his ashes in Ceder Key of the west coast of Florida where he loved to fish when he could.
Mom stayed with me for few months with a caregiver during the day and me at night. The situation almost gave me a nervous breakdown so when she went into rehab for the next go round I couldn't bring myself to bring her home again. She spent 14 months in an assisted living facility until most of her money was exhausted. Now she lives at my house. 911 knows the way to my house and the ER nurses recognize us when we come in. My mom should have stock in that hospital. We had two rooms and a bath set up for her with all of the best intentions for a happy, ok tolerable, coexistence. Not happenin'.
Mom can't do very much for herself. Before I go to work, I have to think through her day much like you would with a two year old going to daycare: drinks, breakfast, newspaper, coffee in a thermos, lunch, snack, let the dog out. She answers the phone and forgets messages, spills food and drinks on the carpet, feeds her dog all the things she shouldn't have, and swears the whole time that she didn't do it whatever it is. She wants to help me but can't and doesn't understand why she is so much trouble. "Your father never acted like you do." She is bladder incontinent and has developed an aversion to bathing. She keeps saying it would be easier if she just died. She basically exists. I wouldn't call her life living.
I resent having to take care of her. I resent the fact that there is no where else she can go without the guilt eating me up. I resent having to take care of a bitchy 77 year old invalid who should have died numerous time but outlived my daddy. I hate feeling like this all of the time. I have tried to accept the situation and I have put myself back into therapy and jointed a gym but I still have to come home at night. I want my life back.
I cried when I read your posting. Your mother is much like the rest of our mothers. It seems the fathers in all of our cases were the good ones.
I don't blame you for resenting and I have wished worse on my parents than you would ever know.
How do little children get ill and die and these people who are just existing to make others lives miserable keep going. I know God says there is a purpose for everything and I was wishing my parents would have found theres. But they didn't.
I hope that you will enjoy venting on this website. It has sure gotten me through many of bad days.
Love,
marylynne
My parents both wish they would die, that is easy to say but I know they are scared of even getting sick.
They don't understand why we feel this way wanting to have a normal life. Don't feel guilty you are doing only what you know that is the best for her, we all are.
Sounds like her health issues are eventually going to land her in a nursing home. you are brave to handle her illnesses.
As much as your day was horrible when you got locked out, It sounded so familiar to me. Especially the lecture you gave your mom and the way it will only help for a few fleeting days. Enjoy it.
My day, the same day, was very similar. My 20 year old daughter went with me and my mom to pick light fixtures out for the new addition. My daughter had a knock down drag out fight with my mother, revealing all of my innermost thoughts, which she got from this website. She found me on it one night and when I x-ed out of it, she caught the name of the website and logged on to it and read all of my postings. I told her that this was like my diary and she had no right to read it. She therefore used it against me to cause trouble with my mom. She didn't mention the website, just told my mom that I didn't have enough balls to tell her that she is a pain in the ass and a bunch of other stuff.
Of course, I told her, please do not cause trouble for me, I can't handle playing peacekeeper to everyone. She demanded that I choose between my mother and her. My daughter is like the bad seed. I love her to death, but do not agree with anything she does or thinks. I told her I loved her and she would be making a life of her own, but my mom I will have to take care of indefinitely in the same house, so stay out of it and I will never choose.
I cried all night. We should not be in these positions, that our parents put us in. I have been taking care of my parents, since my bad seed was born. She was always hard to deal with, but maybe because I had my attentions focused on her and my parents. What do we do when we have to divide our attentions. Should we be blamed for how our kids feel. I just thought I was doing the right thing and balancing everything quite nicely. I guess I was wrong.
I feel like I am the cause of everyones misery and don't know what to do. I feel hopeless since friday. Friday was my bad day too. Have not recuperated since.
Love to all of you,
Marylynne
I agree with decor/Judy that your mother's health issues will land her in a nursing home soon. I don't understand why life is so painful like this. What are we to do?
Lord have mercy on us all
Cindi
don't think it is fair for daughter to tell you to choose between her and your mother and father. She knows your hot button and is pressing it. It wasn't right of her to read your posting and then turn it on you. This is a sacred place for you and now she has ruined it. I'm sorry but she is being a brat it seems. The last thing you need it this. As your daughter who loves you, she should be more loving and less selfish. She is old enough to understand. I feel bad and sad for you Marylynne. Her use of guilt and manipulation is not right.
I hope she will stop it and be more understanding.
Cindi
She is so like my mother is it scary. That is why they do not get along. She left today to go live with boyfriend. I told her I wouldn't have read her diary, why would she read mine.
She is trying to make me feel like I didn't do my job with her when I know I did. She is not a nice person. I love her because she is my child, but I do not like her as a person.
Thank you for your feedback, I appreciate it. Can't sleep since all of this. Just another guilt trip, laid on by yet another family member.
Love,
marylynne
We got thru the day just fine because we were like a bunch of robots. My Mother started threatening my son at one point. No one said anything and she forgot what she was saying and piped down.
Today, I feel strange and out of touch with reality. I've been there lots of times with family gatherings. I wish we didn't have to do them. But Mother would become unmanagable if we didn't.
I want to be relieved of this burden.
My mother started talking about all the crap that is on TV and then started in on morals, then sex. We never talked about that stuff when we were young, this I know because she never talked to me about it either. She hates the word sex never the less the act.
I told her she's married so nothing on TV or elsewhere affects her. Well its the young ppl she said. I again told her it doesn't affect her. I refuse to have the dicussion with her, if FIRE could shoot from every hole in her body it would if you talk about SEX. I am open with my sons about sex and they have had many classes in school not like I had.
Smile and have a better day, Judy
I know about the sex thing. My mother told me this weekend "what is everyone going to think of you that you let you daughter move in with her boyfriend". She said "i would not have let you do that".
I told her that my daughter will be 21 in just a couple of months. She is an adult, no matter how much sense she has, and she will do as she pleases. Unlike me who did as her mother pleased. I want my kids to be who they want to be and not to be pleasing everyone else. Of course, I want them to have good morals and be kind to people, but she does not understand that once you have raised them, they can go out on their own.
It really made me mad that she considers me a bad mother, because my daughter chooses to live with her boyfriend. If I had it to do all over again, I would have to try living with someone, before marrying them. My husband is a good man, but we have many differences that I still have problems with (drinking).
Maggiesue do you wonder when this every will end. I just want to be told I will survive this to have a life, don't you?
Love to all my favorite girls
Marylynne
We are all so frustrated with our assorted situations. We aren't necessarily the "good ones" but we are the strong ones.
Help,
I had a posting ready to submit and when I pushed the button all that went is what you see. Anyone else have problems?
My mom thinks I slept with every "TOM, DICK and HARRY" so she puts it, well she's wrong I was married once at 21 and he was my first. After the divorce I had a couple boyfriends, I again was an adult. I think because we could get away with it and lightning didn't strike us, thats what they don't like. I meet my husband and am faithful to him. I wasn't a bad kid and I'm still not bad.
I don't know what her ******* problem was this morning but she is mad. She came out of her room with such a scowl on her face and marched with her walker into the kitchen, slammed the cabinet door, and tossed her walker around. She just got out of bed, nothing has happened to piss her off yet. Thats the way she usually is except the last wek she's been pretty good. I said whats the problem, no answer, lucky for me I guess! Her whole day will be screwed up because of the attitude. She's in her room now she'll be in and out all day slamming things.
Marylynne you have to let them go and take chances, hopefully good choices. I didn't live with my first husband before we got married but I did live with this one before for 8 months and we will be together 20 years in December. When I was young my mother wouldn't let me move out unless I was getting married.
Donna, you are to funny! OXOXOX Judy
I wonder every day if this will be the day I will find her dead. I am extremely nervous about that. I talked to my doctor once about what I should do. He said to call the police. The medical examiner will have to do an autopsy if I can't get a doctor to sign a death certificate. She won't go to the doctor anymore so I don't know if he would sign it.
I don't think my life will ever be the same again. I don't trust anymore.