[mitchntx]

... makes raising children such a chore sometimes.

It's to prepare you for when your parents are close to reaching the end of their life.

Many of you know, I lost my Dad to cancer several years ago. And it now appears my Mom is beginning to wind down her life as well. It's OK as I have taken numerous oppurtunities to talk candidly about her death, her wishes and her fears. Likewise, I have done the same with her ... no regrets.

When they are in terrible pain, depressed and refusing treatment, food, water, medication ... it's hard to undertand the bull-headedness.

Yesterday afternoon she pitched a fit any 5 year old would envy. My wife called me, in tears, explaining what was going on. By the time I got the car loaded, the truck packed and got to the rehab hospital, Mom was all smiles and everything was once again wonderful.

Reminded me so much of how my daughters acted at times when they didn't get their way or didn't like the reasoning I gave them for why I said no.

It was at that point in time I understood why God made rasing kids difficult at times ... taking care of parents is much more difficult ...

Use your time with your folks wisely ...

/vent

[trackbird]

Wow Mitch. I can only wish for the best for you and your wife. It's a tough battle and there will be days you just want to quit (and I know you are too stubbron for that).

My grandfather had alzheimer's and lived for 5 years while getting worse every day. We weren't sure that my grandmother was going to make it either as taking care of him was taking a toll on her too (but she refused to quit and wouldn't ask for help). He was on oxygen and wouldn't sleep upstairs because he was afraid the fire would get out of the oxygen bottle (he saw the flammable warning sticker and thought there was fire in the bottle) and he wouldn't make it downstairs before the fire got him (and that was a few years from the end, he digressed from there). He passed away several years ago and grandma has been a kid again, visiting family all over the country and having a ball (it took her a while to get past things and move forward with her life). Watching him as he got worse was one of the worst things ever. Sometimes life comes from death. She has her life back and has really started living again. I can only hope you have similar results.