Thanks for the well wishes. I need a whole forest of redwoods!!! You are not going to believe what happened! My co-worker and I were strolling in our new environment and That One called me in the middle of the afternoon. OH had fallen in the shower. My first thoughts: he died, he has a broken limb, he is in the hospital, I have to get back on a plane, etc. That was probably in 3 seconds. He’s fine. The Other One (her sister who never contacts ME anymore or even contacts her dad and won’t see him unless That One comes with her, etc.) was on her way to visit him so she found him. She couldn’t get him up so called the fire department. AND, the Other One wanted That One to call ME to see if they could return him to my house (two hours away from them) and set up 24 hours sitters. Yep, you gotta laugh. WHAT? I am across half the country and when they are confronted with what I do on a daily basis they cannot handle it for 5 days. I did not have the wits about me that I needed to reply they way I wish I had. Thought of “Welcome to my world...oh, and wait until he becomes really, really cranky!” “Welcome to the world of being a carer for a physically and mentally challenged loved one. I’m sorry you don’t want to be in that world. Unfortunately it is your world. He is your dad.” And “I’ve been telling y’all about this” and the best would have been “Did you take him to a hospital and have him see a doctor?” The last one is what That One said to me when I sent a text relaying a particularly terrible weekend. Also, a few weeks ago I called That One when her dad thought he could walk through the garage late at night and I needed reinforcements to stop him because I feared the danger of so much concrete. She literally put me down saying, he has to live and if he falls, he falls. Now they are wearing my shoes. But don’t think they are aware they are mine. They think this is new and their place is inappropriate for him. These girls are 42 and 40 years old!!!!! I said no, he cannot go back home. (How would that make HIM feel. Oops, you are not what we thought you were. You are too much trouble, you must leave and strangers will keep you.) “But he likes the new sitter (I have someone come 3 days a week.” I said she has other jobs. I said I don’t think her dad would like that.
I was literally shaking. I know they are clueless to this is my life, otherwise, why would she have called?
I called two of my sons/dils later for advice because I was not in a place of sensible thinking. I knew and they confirmed, do not say “I told you so.” Stick to your guns.
I guess my thoughts of future travels will not include them. And putting him with sitters is costly and downright sad. At least I have all of you. Thank!
I was literally shaking. I know they are clueless to this is my life, otherwise, why would she have called?
I called two of my sons/dils later for advice because I was not in a place of sensible thinking. I knew and they confirmed, do not say “I told you so.” Stick to your guns.
I guess my thoughts of future travels will not include them. And putting him with sitters is costly and downright sad. At least I have all of you. Thank!