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 She has all but completely withdrawn from any interaction with the outside world.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?
She would never hear of going in a nursing home. She is much to spritely for that. She said she would put my Dad in a nursing home and go live in a condo, but she said I would still have to get her drugs, groceries and take her to the dr. I told her, who said? I told her I have to do nothing of the sort and if she didn't straighten up and talk to me without upsetting me, she would have to go. There is no hope for her, she is too selfish. She is only concerned for her well being and not mine. She told me I have been resenting her and my father since they moved in with me 3 years ago. I told her I have been resenting them for 21 years. She didn't like that.
She thought she was out of the realm of me resenting her, she thought it was just my dad I resented. I told her she had the backwards.
I really laid it on her today, but to no avail I know.
Thanks for all your kind words, trying to stay tough.
Love,
Marylynne
I am so sorry for what you are going through. Would you be able to tell Mom if she does not change her ways you will have her placed in a nursing home that might give her something to ponder- it does not seem fair she can make everyone else crazy- she is acting like a child-take it from me it is hard to be firm and stronge but it gets easier fast once you start standing up for yourself. She is really abusing you and your Dad. Someone needs to get through to her that her behaivor is unexceptable. Please try to find some refief for yourself each day. My heart breaks for you
Marylynne, your mother will not give you permission to put her in a nursing home or somewhere else. You may think as a good mother she would do that to help you, her daughter esp since you are not doing well. But, she won't. You must do that for yourself, dear. It's okay. Nothing wrong with that. You are at the end of your rope and resenting her for it. Do they have enough for assisted living? Or private home? If not how about medi-cal/medicaid?
Donna, I'm sure it would be good to see my daughter, not her friend though...(laughing) and I don't want her to marry him!!! It is just more work for me and it gets me more stressed is all so mixed feelings but of course I want to see daughter. Glad your mother said something nice about wishing she could help you. Sounds like you are a good worker on top of everything else. Patient too.
Judy, sorry your dad is going up and down. Worrisome. You are a good daughter keep doing good by him and let him know how you love him. How is Mother coping with dad not doing well?
Maria, sounds like you are doing okay, I am glad.
Austin, seems like you are doing okay...keep that husband under wraps!
Mia, did your mother treat her other kids the way she did you with the emotional abuse, animal stuff etc? Your father does not deserve you. Do not let him abuse you. You don't deserve it nor should you take it. Pooey on him.
Mimi, good hearing from you. You are probably back in school now...
I'm doing okay, today uneventful. Doing the best I can.
Tomorrow dad has cardiologist appt. Elevator being repaired have to help him up the stairs..hoping it will be alright.
Hugs
Cindi
She puts his things in the bathroom for him to wash up in the sink. She gives him 1/2 hour to do this. When we were living in the other house and sharing one bathroom, she let him have a whole hour. She didn't care that I couldn't get in the bathroom. Well, anyway, she wasn't feeling good, so I put his things in the bathroom and left him around 10:45. She was rushing him out the bathroom at 11:00 and I told her he wasn't in there a 1/2 hour yet. She was being real mean to him. She told me to mind my own business that I was just giving him amunition to fight back with her. When I left the room, my dad said, I am leaving and I retorted, No BOTH OF YOU ARE LEAVING, I CAN'T TAKE THIS ANY MORE.
She did not remember how she yelled at me about the 1/2 hour thing, just that I said they had to go. She pouted all day, then at 5:00 she said I was a horrible daughter and that I have changed and that I have a sick mind and she has never caused any trouble with me, that it is me not her.
My husband said I am hitting my head up against a brick wall and for me to ignore her and not to fight back, but if I don't fight back I feel like I am losing a piece of myself. I poured my heart out to her and told her I loved them, but could not handle not having a life any more. I told her if she was any kind of mother, she would look at me and know I can't handle things and try to help me fix the problem we are in. She doesn't care. She only cares about herself. She makes only comments like "WHat about me", not you.
I am so very depressed tonite, feel like doing away with myself, like Miak. I can't win. I want my own life no matter what the consequence at this point. I may have to put them out and put ourselves in debt in order to pay her back for her addition to my house. My husband said it would be the best debt he ever got into.
Will let you know how tomorrow goes. Judy, thinking of you and all the girls. Like Scarlett O'hara said, "tomorrow is another day".
Love,
Marylynne
He misses me and begged me to take him home with me when I was there for dinner. I feel sooo bad. We went there for lunch time and he was sleeping. I left mom there and went home for a short while when I got back he was awake and ready to eat his lunch, he didn't remember me being there at 4 am he did remember George though. When he is sleeping he thinks he's awake and when he is awake he thinks he's asleep. He doesn't know if its day or night sometimes.
I'm sorry I have missed alot of your postings and can't catch up but I think of all of you and I wish you were here with me I could handle all this better for sure. oxoxox Judy
Maria, sorry about being called a spic. I have been called that before but never by a family member. My grandfather always threw it in my face that I was adopted but I always had a smart remark to give back. Be proud of who u are. Those people who call others names are worthless. If you are what your father says, then what is he doing with you? Nobody else would put up with his crap but because u are there and handy, he lashes out at you. Not making excuses for him, he is just plain mean and racist. You are right about telling our children how much they are loved and valued. I was told almost everyday by one of my parents that I was loved, maybe that is why I am such a brat. A brat that knows when to take responsiblity and I took it very young after my father died. I tell my children that I love them and also my friends. I learned the hard way that one day they are here and the next they are not. Please, if I ever offend anybody here, let me know. Sometimes I speak[write] without thinking. I just say what I think or feel. Everybody have a great day.
Maria
Please don't feel like you're alone with the way you feel. Everytime me and my mom are in the car together, I feel like running into a tree or something and end it all. I always think of my children, but somehow I think they may be better off without that horrid grandmother of theirs. I try to jump back into reality and remember that those are terrible thoughts, but it doesn't stop me from having them.
Today I was at the beauty parlor with my mother and when she walked away, I wished her dead and said it out loud. The lady who does her hair, said that was horrible. I hope god don't punish me for my thoughts. I have to believe that the way we feel and talk is all out of frustration and that god will do something for us to change the way we feel.
Keep going for you husband. He deserves a try at his new business and everything will turn around for the best. As for your dad, standing up for yourself may do no good in his book, but like you, when I blow up it sure makes me feel independent for a short time.
Love to all of you girls and hang in there. I need to follow my own directions. Notice how easy it is to give other people direction, but not yourself.
Love,
marylynne
As far as the house and foreclosure etc. You sure have alot of chit going on. Too much way too much. I also have hard time handling finances...always have. Not working probably makes it worse. So, I have an idea of where you are coming from. Do what you must to survive. Like MiMi said do everything for your welfare for you own good.
Business venture sounds good. However, if it is going to put you further into debt..is the risk worth it? Or, is it going to put you even further down the hole...much to consider.
Good Luck and know that I care too and am thinking of you.
Hugs
Cindi
It feels so good to have someone to go at the end of the day to people who can empathize and understand.
Maria glad you have things under control. We are here for you whenever you need.
zzme, thanks for sharing your thoughts and feelings. I do appreciate your care and wanting to help. I also feel I must say (and this is me) that perhaps you are so impassioned by your knowledge and experience that your message is coming out a bit strong at times sometimes that could work against people hearing you.
Sha, it must be especially difficult to take care of a mother that you do not like. I kind of know how that is myself. You seem to feel very strong about it at least right now. I do counseling would help big time. Not so much would they teach you how to stop hating Mother...that would be something you might decide to do while undergoing counseling. They would help you with skills and how to handle your emotions..etc. I hope you try it. I only know it has helped me.
Marylynne, sorry to hear about your Mother-in-law being placed in a nursing home. I can only imagine how you must feel...maybe some guilt and regret. I feel for your husband as well. You are doing your best. Also, our parents will not say to us "oh okay we realize we are stressing you and you have no life so why don't you stop taking care of us"...they know this but they want to be helped so they will not choose us over them are you kidding...especially not our mom's who are both self centered. The world revolves around them so they thing and need it to be. Might as well give up on that fantasy of them choosing our needs over theirs won't happen. If anyone is going to stand up it will have to be us for ourselves.
This is our lesson to learn, I believe.
Judy, I am glad your father is out of CCU and had a good BM...life is so much better after a good BM for your Dad (smiles). He still isn't out of the woods it seems. Glad he told you he needs you and you told him how you are there for him the best way you can be but have other responsibilities too. You are taking good care of yourself and dad and hubby. I know that dad is 95 and no matter what age HE is your dad and you want him here as long as he can be here. I think people forget sometime and really should keep that thought to themselves. They wouldn't want to hear that either. Hang in there Judy and enjoy dad as much as you can. He is a nice dad.
Donna tie a knot and hang in there. Even though it is very very difficult. You take good care of your mom and are so patient with her toileting problems. Your mother knows you do good by her no matter what she says or does not say, you can rest assured of what you do and have done.
As for me I am doing okay. Trying to catch up on sleep always. I have sleep apnea and sleep with a machine but many times I cant stand to wear it. Also have insomnia lately due to stress and menopause I think. Hope tonight is a good sleep night. Busy week something everyday. Today took dad mom sister to the hematologist/oncologist. She said dad's multiple myeloma is about the same as a few months ago but dad is declining. She said she gives him 1 to 2 more years if myeloma is left untreated. We willl talk amongst ourselves but are leaning to giving him better quality of life instead of longer life but with bad quality. We are probably going to keep him comfortable and not treat it. She was talking about getting help in the home. Made me think and kind of freak..how will I handle dad's dying and declining at home and taking care of him til the end? Mom will not be able to live in this house if he dies here..she is supertitious and scared of ghosts etc. I am already stressed how will I do more then I already do? The doctor made it seem that I could do it. Worried. Don't know how I will fare or if I can do it.
Daughter is coming home next week for 1 day and two nights on her way to a wedding. Looking forward to seeing her but more stress. Also she is coming with her male friend who will sleep on the sofa. I don't like her bringing him and having to host him to sleep here. But it is his cousin that is getting married and he is having Jenna go with him. His mother even paid for an extra hotel room just for Jenna. Her friend, Daniel and his brother are in one room, parents in another. Daughter is vegetarian so that means separate menu too. I took a mini day away...but worked here alot too. I am so tired.
Take care and big hugs
Cindi
Hugs
Cindi
Counseling help me a lot with the anger I had with my husband-it took a while but she told me I could not wait for someone to rescue me it was not going to happen- then I got real angery with her but after a frw days I realized she was right and started to think how I could help myself -at first it was insisting he go to adult day care then we decided to hire private aides which is possible for now by cutting down on other things and if he goes into nursing home for good they will take most of our savings anyway and I might get some relief now. Also since he is not nice to me I will not go out with him in public. Today he told me he could talk to me any way he wanted to and then a few min, later said he was going yo a special meeting at church tomarrow- if he goes I will not sit with him.
ZZME, thank you for trying to help some of us. I appreciate it but for now I have things in control. Maybe in the near future, who knows. One thing I know is that I would never put my mother in a nursing home. I know what happens in there, been there, done that. I might lose control with my mom sometimes but I'd rather face the challenges and bitch and moan on this format then to see her there. I love my mother very much and for me, and I say me, it would be a very cruel thing to put her somewhere where she won't be loved but looked at as somebody who is just taking space. Maria
No one can make you stop hating your mother....only you. You have to figure out why is it that you hate your mother so much. I, myself, had to conquer those same feelings. That hate is adding to your stress as well as your well-being. I have also learned that unhappiness with my life made me become a bitter and negative person. You need to talk to a counselor. Just through rambling, most times a counselor can pinpoint things that you may not have realized.
It's time for you to take a stand for you. Figure out what you want and where you want to be in life and challenge yourself. Try to do small things for others when you can. I have found that to help me to love more. Talking to you right now helps me.
Another thing that I have found to help is to focus on the present and future, despite the past. Dwelling on the past can keep you from arising to your future. So, you have to figure out where that hate stems from and let it go for a better you.
With love,
ZZME
Love to all the girls, hope you are having a better day.
Love,
Sha
If anyone wants to give me a breakdown of their problems to see if I can help, let me know. I will be happy to see if there is anything I can do to help. And to those who question counseling as a means of coping....it does help. Sometimes you need to get everything out of your system...and even cry. Counselors are unbiased and most will do everything possible to help you through these difficulties.
Because I haven't read all of the blogs, I don't know all the disabilities or infirmities of aging that your parents have. But through my line of work, I have told others that nursing home, assisted living, or income based housing that provide home home health services are not bad options. I know we hate to look at these options, but right now with everyone struggling with finances, health issues, and stress, which is the precipitator of so many physical and mental problems, we are left with few choices. And believe me, I understand when family puts all responsibilities on one person.
Let me know what city and state, you live in and I will research information for you. I'm going to go back and read some of the blogs to see if I can determine your whole situation. I'm on and off the site due to my job responsibilities, so be patient with me getting back to you.
ylwdog3, I know just what you are saying. I talk to myself all day long, saying things like, I hope you die, etc. I wish God would just decide whether its me or them, because I can't handle their lives any more.
Today my husband had to put his mother in a nursing home due to alz. He felt so terribly awful when he got home, because when it was time for him to leave, she thought she was going with him. I know he must feel awful with my parents living with us and him and his brothers having to put their mother in a nursing home. I tried to be supportive, but how can you be when you have been taking care of someone for 20 years that should have been in a nursing home and you cannot offer your spouse the same care for his parent, because you can't handle any more?
All I know from this experience is one thing. If taking care of your parents make you resent them, why can't they see it and decide that their kid taking care of them is not the right thing to do. They should realize this. I know from taking care of my parents that my kids will never ruin their lives taking care of me. I just won't let it happen.
Donna, I don't get sick of hearing the same old thing, I laugh when you say stuff about the horrid witch. I was thinking today, when I am 63, my Mom will be 97. I am quite positive that she will still be alive and if she is, I hope I die before I reach that age.
I was talking to my mom the other morning and told her that this is not what I had wanted for my life. You think that she would understand and do something about it, instead she just says "that life". Well, that is not life. She says she took care of her mom for 35 years. She didn't. My grandmother stayed in her own house, alone, until she was 96 and only came over on the weekends. My mom did not drive, so she didn't have the daily grind of dr. appts. and pharmacy errands. How does this add up to being better than I. She says she did more than me and there was no one better than her.
I bow to the queen, because she will never believe that no one could be better than her. I often wonder if she read this blog, if she would just keel over and die. Maybe, I should let her read it.
Love to all,
Marylynne
The doctor also talked about hospice in the future, my husband's grandmother was in a hospice facility and they were wonderful. I hope the future isn't soon.
And if I hear one more person say well he is 95 I will give them a piece of my mind. 95 or not he is my Dad and no different to me then a newborn baby. And why is he still here because I am watching over him.
To all of you who are taking care of a family member they are surviving because of you, your dedication and devotion, determination and love plays a big part in their reason for still being here and I am fortunate to have one parent who realizes that very thing. And if you don't get a thank you, I am thanking you for them now. to all my friends oxoxoxox Judy
I'll start off by telling you all that the biposy on my breast came out benign...Thank-You Jesus. And thank-you to all of you that had me in your prayers.
I have a UTI right now but that's small potatoes as far as I'm concerned.
Every day I read your horror stories and realise I don't have it so bad. The most thing I have in common is that fact that my mother can be such a bitch. But she is healthy and does a lot for herself. Dad is in a home and doesn't even know who we are anymore, and it's just so sad. My brothers are pretty useless so I sure know how you all feel that don't get any help from siblings. I'm not even asking them to do anything, just come over once in a while and visit with her, take her out for supper, have her over for dinner. Is it that much trouble? But they all figure, "she's with Sharon.....Sharon is taking care of things. Well, Sharon is sick of it. I'm sick of being the only one who gives a crap. Last week was the 60th anniversary of my parents being married and even though Dad is in a home, my mother feels entitled to celebrate and I kind of agree with her. So, good old Sharon sent her a nice card and took her out to dinner. Do you think just one of my useless brothers bothered to even call? Not a chance. I hate them too sometimes. What the Hell....I'm not an only child here. She's their mother too. But they don't want to be bothered. So on it goes. No doubt when my parents are gone, my brothers will be there with their hand out looking for their share of the Trust. I have a good mind to keep it. F them.
I know how Donna feels when she hears the walker. I hear the frigging radio and I say, "Oh God, it lives". She pisses me off on an almost daily basis. The other day I was going back and forth between rooms, getting my clothes ready for Vegas and she was in my way, so I asked her KINDLY if she could move. Know what she said? "You didn't ask the dog to move." And that's the stuff that goes up my ass.
God, give me strength.
Cindi, Donna, Judy, Maria, Marylynne, Austin and all of our new members, my heart goes out to you. You are stronger than you realise and I always say, "God never sleeps." He knows what you do and how hard it can be.
I'm praying for all of you and hoping you have a good day.
Love you all,
Sha