Older people griping about our even older parents.

[John Lloyd1]

I've just recently found out my Mum has dementia and it has been getting worse. I live 3,000kms away, so they don't visit often. With 3 kids, I makes more sense for them to visit us than the other way around. Also, I probably haven't been ringing as frequently as I should and when I have, she was tending to pass me on to Dad quickly. I had noticed that she was slowing down physically and mentally though.

Anyway, I've starting ringing fortnightly just to speak to her. Without the context of a trip to visit us, she doesn't remember where I live any more (I've been here for 30 years). That makes me sad.

 

[ART!]

Mother- and father-in-law stayed with us for a week, and it's been mostly great or good.

But OMG their inability to watch a show or movie is almost appalling. We usually have subtitles on, so there would be little excuse for asking questions about what a character said or what is going on - except for the fact that they want to have conversations during the show/movie and/or are on their phones. When they pop out of the conversation or their phone they ask what's going on.

YEARGH.

When my wife and I are watching a show, that is what we are doing - especially me. I have to focus on that, and if you want to talk to me I have to pause the show. If you're on your phone with the sound on, I have to pause the show or ask you to turn it down or off, and then rewind to see what I missed while the noise from their phone redirected my ADHD brain.

They might be moving in with us, so this will be a conversation.