In
the midst of my duties as a store greeter, I got in a very interesting
discussion with a senior gentleman (who was covered in age spots). He (“Jon”) had
returned from Florida after the death of his third wife due to cancer. His home
was in a central Ohio independent living facility close by to one of his three
daughters.
I
told him that I wished my mother (see Miracles
by Mom) would move into a retirement community. The house was over one
hundred years old, and was a maintenance nightmare. (I felt my mother’s health
was compromised by the possibility of mold.) Some of mom’s depression was due
to the fact she lived alone. She is a people person. (She thrives on being
around others.)
Like
many older adults, Jon didn’t in anyway want to be a burden to his children or
grandchildren. He knew his daughters loved him. His daughter in Columbus wanted
him close by to care for him as he had done for her as a child. (It was time to
return the favor.)
In
the life of many adult children, the role changes in regard to their parents.
The child/parent relationship becomes a strong friendship. The child often
becomes the caregiver, and the parent the child. It can get confusing at times as to who is in
charge. In situations like this, loyalty should be a motivating factor. Shouldn’t
our true love for each other always somewhat guide the direction in our life?
No comments:
Post a Comment