Posted by
MouthyGirl on 01/29/2010 |
One comment
I was visiting with my Dad a few days ago when he announced that he has Early Onset Alzheimers and that he’s taking medication but that he feels it will end badly. I knew he had it, he just was finally diagnosed and accepting treatment for it. He had a stroke a year and a half ago and it’s been rough since then. It changed him, he’s working still and is amazed that he can and still does it well but when you’ve been doing something all your life, it’s second nature.
When I was younger my Dad always seemed immortal to me, I know I’m not the only one who thought that way about their Dad. He was my hero for a long time, the big guy that could fix any car, with so many people into cars, I tried to absorb as much knowledge about them as I could, sadly it didn’t stick.
I’ve taken for granted that my family is getting older, I am self involved and caught up in my own little world so much that I forget sometimes that my time here is short, I don’t have a lot to spare and definitely not any to waste.
I hurt inside that he’s so fearful of the outcome that faces him. I see the fear in his eyes, the terror at losing control, forgetting the things that he’s known and having watched my Grandmother’s memory fade until she didn’t even recognize him, I don’t blame him for being so terrified, I’m terrified.
Folks, it’s a real bitter pill for me to swallow, I love my Dad and I love my Mom and everyone in my family even though I’ve been a contentious bitch to them all at some time or for a period of time, I love them and want them to be here forever and no matter what I hope they all know that.
I don’t like seeing my Dad like that, especially since I’m not in a position to help financially if necessary – that freaks me out a lot.
Do you have severe illness in your family? How are you coping? Please discuss.
Tags: bitter pill, cars, dad, early onset alzheimers, family illness, fear, grandmother, hero, illness, long time, losing control, medication, memory, mom, mortality, second nature, stroke, terror
Posted by
MouthyGirl on 12/03/2009 |
Comments Off
WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WASN’T LOOKING
When you thought I wasn’t looking I saw you hang my
first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately
wanted to paint another one.
When you thought I wasn’t looking I saw you feed a
stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind
to animals.
When you thought I wasn’t looking I saw you make my
favorite cake for me, and I learned that the little
things can be the special things in life.
When you thought I wasn’t looking I saw you make a
meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I
learned that we all have to help take care of each other.
When you thought I wasn’t looking I saw you take care
of our house and everyone in it, and I learned we have
to take care of what we are given.
When you thought I wasn’t looking I saw how you
handled your responsibilities, even when you didn’t
feel good, and I learned that I would have to be
responsible when I grow up.
When you thought I wasn’t looking I saw tears come
from your eyes, and I learned that sometimes things
hurt, but it’s all right to cry.
When you thought I wasn’t looking I saw that you
cared, and I wanted to be everything that I could be.
When you thought I wasn’t looking I learned most of
life’s lessons that I need to know to be a good and
productive person when I grow up.
When you thought I wasn’t looking I looked at you and
wanted to say, ‘Thanks for all the things I saw when
you thought I wasn’t looking.’
Each of us (parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, teacher, friend)
influences the life of a child.
How will you touch the life of someone today? Just by
sending this to someone else, you will probably make
them at least think about their influence on others.
Live simply.. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly.
Got this in email and had to share it, I think it sums it up quite nicely. Enjoy.
Tags: dad, kids, lead by example, leadership, mom, parent, parenting, teach kids to care
Posted by
MouthyGirl on 08/11/2009 |
2 comments
Some families share recipes that are secret to that family, some families share traditions…we (on my Dad’s side) don’t share any secrets in my family, we don’t even share our history.
Some of you know my Grandmother passed away Saturday, there’s a ton of secrecy surrounding her and our family history. Out of respect for my Dad, I don’t ask about the Grandfather that I found out recently passed away, mainly because the one thing I do know is that he beat my Dad. I don’t know anything beyond that.
I also have an aunt that I called and informed of my Grandmother (her mother) passing, having never met her. What I know about her is that she was apparently such Hell on wheels that she was disowned and no one interacts with her. That was an awkward conversation and very sad because I had no idea who she was and hated delivering this news that way.
She called me back today, she’s homebound and can’t really go anywhere and while I wish I could’ve talked longer, I was at work.
What I want to know is why not tell me and my sister about whatever went down, it couldn’t be worse than what we’ve heard other people have seen in their families.
My father is a proud man and has early onset Alzheimers, I will probably never ask and insult him in these tender times, it would be cruel but that doesn’t quiet my curiosity one bit.
What do you think about secrets? Seems stupid to me.
Tags: abuse, curiosity, dad, disowned, family history, family secrets, grandmother, hell on wheels, physical abuse, proud man, secrecy, share recipes, tender times, traditions
