Being Parents to Our Parents

You are born; two or one parent is there to raise you, instilling the values and responsibilities of life. You develop your own personality and as you grow older often remind yourself, "I am my own person and I am no way like my Mom or Dad. I will live my life as I chose, with the hopes my parents will be proud of me."

Going through your life’s experiences you are no doubt handed challenges. Mine was dealing with my mother. All I every wanted was my mom to be like Donna Reed. Instead I got Auntie Mame.

My mom today is 90 years young, lives by herself in Century Village in Pembroke Pines, Florida. Her mind so sharp and alert, but her body is failing. With a walker 24/7 and feeling unbalanced we have dealt with falls in her condo. Even with the alert button her being alone was no longer an option.

Helen recently visited me in New Hampshire for four weeks and what I learned about an aging parent was that I have a new responsibility. Thinking with my head and not my heart was another new challenge. We all want what’s best for our parents. Good quality of life and a safe environment, no less than what we did for our own children growing up.

This has to be one of the most difficult times, deciding the future of our mom or dad. They helped us when we had decisions to make about college, moving out on our own, finances and many challenges we faced as young adults.

Now the tables are turned and it is up to us to now settle on the best road to live out their lives.