Eat Dessert First!

Today I reminded myself (yet again!) that I should be writing down all the crazy-wonderful things that have been going on.  

On New Year's Eve, my mom moved into her new house, I helped her unload and unpack what we could -- just enough so she could spend the night.   We found all the bedding and bath towels, so she figured she was good enough!  I had to work the next day (as usual!!!)  but after work I stopped over to help unload and unpack.  

After seeing how much stuff she had for kitchen cupboards, and how much less kitchen cupboard space she now, she decided that a china hutch was needed.  My cousin Karen too her out shopping to some furniture stores, with no luck.  I think what she had in her mind was so old fashioned that she couldn't see that the more modern looking stuff might work.  So I hunted down some of the more established furniture places, such as Bassett .  Nice stuff!  But again, more modern, and now that she could see what was there in an establishment where she felt was geared toward her and not a younger more modern generation, she started adjusting her mindset to be more open to a sideboard type, rather than an old fashioned type.

Being me, I saved the best for last, and I took her over to an Amish Furniture store because I knew they would have things more to her liking.  We walked in and she fell in love with what was technically being called a "library" but nice shelves, glass doors above, wood doors below.  I knew we wouldn't leave until we made the purchase.  We wandered around and she found a console table and bookshelves also!    *whew*  I was SO happy she was pleased with her purchases.   They delivered them 2 days later :) 

Slowly but surely we're getting the unpacked stuff hung on the walls, arranged around the house, and even some of the yard art got unpacked and settled around the yard --- with the help of mom's great granddaughter, Jo.  She's 2, and we were babysitting, so of course, meals are Grandma's choice, right??  Pizza, Gatorade and some applesauce topped with whipping cream!  YUM!  Eat Dessert First! 

The other thing we've started is family night.  Every Tuesday we get together with my nephew and family, either their house or Mom's.  We share a meal, we might play some games, etc. Just a little something to keep the family bonds strong with the little ones.  Jo is 2, Zane is 5.  Cute ages!   We had spaghetti and the kids were showing off how they slurp in those noodles.  

Family time is precious.  Spending time with any person you care about, whether they're related or not, is very good for a person's well being.   

Love is a many splendored thing.  

Holiday Madness!

 The holidays are always a busy time for most people.  They're even busier for those who work in retail stores (so don't forget to say "thanks" to those folks!, we really appreciate it!!)  But this year is even harder than ever.  Not only do I have to take care of me, and do my job every day, I'm also taking care of Mom.  She's still living with me.  Every day off work is spent in the pursuit of finding her a home.  

She finally found one she liked, we made an offer, it was accepted, we did the inspection, the seller agreed to fix the things we found and we did the final walk thru on Saturday.  We're now waiting for the money from the sale of her home to hit the checking account so we can finalize our monies with the title company and get her moved in!  

But what I'm coming to accept is that my days off are going to be filled with running errands for mom.   With mom.  My vacation days are going to be spent doing those things that she can't do for herself.  And I'm finding that there are more of those things than ever before.  I know that this is a big change for her, and I'm trying to be patient and understanding.  But she is a worrier.  I come home from work to find her sitting on the couch with papers all around her.  There are so many things that need to be done -- find a doctor, get her an AZ ID,  insurance, utilities, post office.  Then there are errands, groceries, shopping, library trips.  

I'm trying not to be resentful,  and maybe that's the wrong word.  But it's intrusive to my own time, my own things that need doing.  Taking walks in parks, painting rocks, taking photos.  I raised my own two kids, I raised 7 others off and on thru the years (stepchildren) and I was finally at a place where I was thinking I would only have to worry about me for a few years.  *sigh*  

It's a fine line, taking care of an aging parent.  But I'm trying to work it out, work it into something that works for both her and I.   And that's all I can do --- try my best.