The first holiday we involved MIL in was Halloween. We have three children and took her trick-or-treating with us. She walked in the middle of the street, even after we explained that it was a very bad example for the four yr old. She would not wait on us while the children went to houses and kept wandering off. Halfway through she started crying loudly and would not talk to us or tell us what was wrong. It was a disaster. We assumed that because she had moved in so recently that things would smooth out over time. However, we had similar theatrics over Thanksgiving. She did not want to be involved with the family, she cried loudly and when we tried to comfort her and fix what was wrong, she just yelled at us. Tonight, we took the children and her to a holiday event at the museum. It was pretty much the same. She ran off into the large crowd, would not stay with us as a group, would not participate in any of the activities, and at one point, ran out in the cold and refused to come back inside. We are gearing up to celebrate several weeks in a row of birthdays, and holiday events. I’m concerned that this behavior is really getting to the children, as my eldest one cried all the way home tonight. Should I continue to involve her in our holiday events, or just start leaving her behind? I don’t want to make her feel isolated, or exclude her from the family. But on the other hand, I want my kids to have a happy holiday and happy birthdays. I’m torn between both “rights”.
She sounds very anxious in new unfamiliar situations. It is also quite dangerous to have her walking in the middle of the street, doing unexpected things and running off. Very unsafe! You are trying to watch young children and her. She has wondered off mult times It is not working.
You could be accused of abuse if she is seen crying hysterically and having meltdowns. People (may think) you did something to her, and call the cops. Or finding her after she ran off all alone. And your with your children doing other things not looking for her. Then you will be explaining why you didnt keep her with you to the cops.
I would stop these outing immediately! She is highly anxious running off, and emotional. Probably looking for familiar settings to feel secure again. I dont think she can handle change like that. It is not enjoyable for the whole family. She might have sun downing where she seems fine at first, but with time, looses her bearings and starts showing more signs of dementia, agitation and then the melt downs. It's too much for her.
These outings arent ending well. Why would you upset an old woman? Leave her in safe surroundings with a carer, and enjoy time and focus on your kids. They can tell her all about it on their return. She feels and is unsafe in new surroundings. You dont want to see something bad happen to her. Or she wanders off and not found for a few days. NOT SAFE!!!! Leave her in safe surroundings. She cant handle these outings any more. They arent fun for her or your family. Leave her home and enjoy your kids.
Perhaps it would be best for her to keep her routine as absolutely consistent as possible. You and your husband can tag team watching her vs doing activities with the kids.
You don't want your kids to start resenting her for spoiling their holiday fun, and you dont want your holiday to be about dealing with one meltdown after another.
Perhaps she could spend time with visiting family members one on one in her familiar room, and have her meals at set times privately in the kitchen.
My MIL is still amazingly functional for 93, but she gets confused and upset dealing with more than a few people at a time. She doesn't recognize most family members any more.
She's letting you know what she can handle by her behavior.
Develop a relationship with a home care agency. They can schedule a companion for family events and excursions where your MIL can't be left home alone or where you may be home, but need her to have companionship while the family is engaged in something she won't enjoy participating in.
This isn't exclusion. It's being sensitive to her needs.
I know you've probably had similar answers however wanted to chime in anyway.
There comes a time when our elderly can no longer tolerate large crowds, too much noise, children running around, etc.
I was not prepared when my Dad did this the first weekend we took them with us to a family event. We were stuck in traffic on a busy highway. It was late, stop and start traffic, all the headlights, cars blowing their horns, etc. My Dad tried to get out of the truck. Thankfully we had children locks in the backseat. At the hotel and my son's graduation, it was worse. It took me a week to recover from all of that.
As we realized what was happening to Dad, we limited the celebrations that included him to 3 hrs for Christmas since all family members were there. A more controlled group during Thanksgiving that he could tolerate better. Halloween was for passing candy only if they did not have too many children. His birthday was maybe no more than 2 hrs. I was no longer able to take him to any of his grandkids or great grandkids parties no matter if they were at a home or at a special location.
He could tolerate a grandchild or two. My 6 year old granddaughter would walk him to the dinner table and help me settle him into bed. She didn't fear her great grandpa but knew when he wasn't himself. Not all the grandkids were like that. Some were truly frightened and there was no reason for them to remember him that way.
Do the best you can but don't beat yourself up about it. My Dad loved all the kids when he was okay back in the day. I'm sure your MIL would not expect you to not do the right thing for the kids. Those special celebrations when your kids are young can never be again. Enjoy that time! Keep making memories!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wUOQgrQw4fM
It sounds like it is simply NOT SAFE to take your MIL out anymore. It’s not safe for her and it’s not safe for your kids because your attention is on your MIL when you are chasing her back inside and trying to keep her out of traffic. I’m going to be blunt here—it really sounds like none of you know how to handle her. And that’s to be expected, it’s not something you just know how to do. If you don’t know how to handle someone with dementia and cognitive issues then you have no business taking them out in public because it’s not safe for them and not safe for you. And it’s not safe for your kids because your eyes are on your MIL instead of your kids! It sounds like she can no longer handle large crowds and if she’s running off, then she’s not taking in the sights and sounds and enjoying herself. So why take her?
if you have to spend all your time focusing on your MIL and keeping her under control, then don’t take her. Its neither cruel or inhumane to leave her behind. It is not fair to your children to take them places and then be consumed with your MILs needs. Because NO ONE gets to enjoy themselves. It’s ok to leave her behind while you take your kids out & have fun experiences with them. Your MIL has lived her life, she’s done far more in her life than your kids have done. Focus on your kids and making memories with them. You can still do things with your MIL and make memories with her in a more controlled environment such as your home.
Maybe thinking of events like this ... a time to be a private family for awhile before the kids grow up and leave home ... would make you feel less guilty.