(no subject)
I have reached an odd stage in my life, I have slowly realised over the last few weeks that I am now 'the sensible person' - the one that deals with everyone else's problems. Over the last few years my parents have become ill, are no longer confident to drive and generally need to be 'kept an eye on', our roles have totally reversed and I almost perceive them in the same way as I do my teenage daughters, it is like having four children, although I can at least tell my girls if I think they are doing something foolish and they will listen to my advice but not necessarily act upon it. Parents are somewhat trickier and have to be treated with care. On the whole my parents behaviour is far worse than that of my teenage daughters; if I could I would ground them indefinitely!
My time is split between driving my girls to after school activities, parties, into town, etc.,and driving my parents to hospital/dental/doctor appointments and shopping. My mother will still drive locally, but worryingly seems to need a drink before she goes to give her courage and will not do right turns any more, she will drive miles out of her way to avoid a right turn. A trip to her local shop which is three quarters of a mile away becomes a five mile round trip. My mother has emphysema and really struggles to breathe at times, but continues to smoke. It is a source of amusement to my girls that mum can often be seen alternating between puffing on her inhaler - and a cigarette!
Social events are always a little worrying - not because of my daughters who are generally polite and well behaved but because of my parents - not least because my mother has taken to drinking rather too much in her twilight years. At my uncle's funeral, my mother had obviously had a bit to drink before it had got under way, she had forgotten to put her hair up and so used a paper napkin to make a bow and fixed it with clips. It looked okay - until it rained and the bow drooped and stuck to her head. After the service at the reception (if that is what you call it, wake maybe, eating bit anyway) my mother fell down the stairs as "she didn't see them" and then being quite taken aback that there was no alcohol soon decided that she would have a cigarette even though smoking was not permitted, because of this she tried to hide it under the table hoping no-one would notice, sadly they did as the table covers were made of paper and inevitably she set fire to the one on our table and we had to throw our tea on it to put it out. The only person who didn't seem to notice was my father who is virtually blind with his diabetes.
My father - now his behaviour - believe it or not - is far worse!
My time is split between driving my girls to after school activities, parties, into town, etc.,and driving my parents to hospital/dental/doctor appointments and shopping. My mother will still drive locally, but worryingly seems to need a drink before she goes to give her courage and will not do right turns any more, she will drive miles out of her way to avoid a right turn. A trip to her local shop which is three quarters of a mile away becomes a five mile round trip. My mother has emphysema and really struggles to breathe at times, but continues to smoke. It is a source of amusement to my girls that mum can often be seen alternating between puffing on her inhaler - and a cigarette!
Social events are always a little worrying - not because of my daughters who are generally polite and well behaved but because of my parents - not least because my mother has taken to drinking rather too much in her twilight years. At my uncle's funeral, my mother had obviously had a bit to drink before it had got under way, she had forgotten to put her hair up and so used a paper napkin to make a bow and fixed it with clips. It looked okay - until it rained and the bow drooped and stuck to her head. After the service at the reception (if that is what you call it, wake maybe, eating bit anyway) my mother fell down the stairs as "she didn't see them" and then being quite taken aback that there was no alcohol soon decided that she would have a cigarette even though smoking was not permitted, because of this she tried to hide it under the table hoping no-one would notice, sadly they did as the table covers were made of paper and inevitably she set fire to the one on our table and we had to throw our tea on it to put it out. The only person who didn't seem to notice was my father who is virtually blind with his diabetes.
My father - now his behaviour - believe it or not - is far worse!