Laura & CTB Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 Last September I bought my eighty year old Dad a bonsai tree for his birthday - a seven year old nicely established tree that I thought he would enjoy looking after with the occasional spray of water, bit of pruning etc. I went to visit last week: "How's the bonsai doing?" I said "Marvellously love" he said, "Doing much better in a bigger pot now the roots have got chance to spread out a bit!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joojoo Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 parents eh!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 parents eh!! Don't!!! I had another increasingly bizarre conversation with my mother yesterday! Not only is she getting more forgetful, but she just doesn't eirther listen or grasp things, and, equally, is not prepared to take things in or learn anything new. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 I've got parents like that too. I am always a bit wary of critising them too much though because one day mine children will talk of me in such terms, if they don't already. ED had a teenage rant at us last night Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joojoo Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 parents eh!! Don't!!! I had another increasingly bizarre conversation with my mother yesterday! Not only is she getting more forgetful, but she just doesn't eirther listen or grasp things, and, equally, is not prepared to take things in or learn anything new. Crikey can I relate to that!! With an 81 year old father - one minute he's fine, the next he's turned into Kevin the Pensioner!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 Last September I bought my eighty year old Dad a bonsai tree for his birthday - a seven year old nicely established tree that I thought he would enjoy looking after with the occasional spray of water, bit of pruning etc. I went to visit last week: "How's the bonsai doing?" I said "Marvellously love" he said, "Doing much better in a bigger pot now the roots have got chance to spread out a bit!" I love it! Him Indoors late father used to unlpug the fridge at night before he went to bed. He also soldered the safety valve down on MIL's ancient lethal pressure cooker, because he didn't like the steam and hissing. Mercifully they were out in the garden when it exploded or they would have both been killed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 Him Indoors late father used to unlpug the fridge at night before he went to bed. He also soldered the safety valve down on MIL's ancient lethal pressure cooker, because he didn't like the steam and hissing. Mercifully they were out in the garden when it exploded or they would have both been killed. What age did he finally make it to? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted February 28, 2008 Author Share Posted February 28, 2008 He also soldered the safety valve down on MIL's ancient lethal pressure cooker, because he didn't like the steam and hissing. Mercifully they were out in the garden when it exploded or they would have both been killed. OMG makes me wonder what might be coming next!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baby bears mum Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 I hate it when they start "We didn't want to worry you but ........................". You just know the rest of your week is going to be taken up with sorting it out. My parents (father really) are habitual house movers (used to be once every two years or so) and as they've got older we've been the ones to do all the hard work. The time before last they didn't even tell me they'd put the house on the market - my sister in law saw it in the paper!!!! Once they'd got me off the ceiling I did help them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joojoo Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 You've got me panicking now too I know mine is alive and well at the moment as I've just spoken to him but he is a constant source of worry with what he gets up to. It must be so difficult getting to 80 and although your mind says you can still do everything you find that your body just can't cope with it. I try not to take his independence away completely but he still does try to do some very silly things and for someone with Parkinsons, a heart condition, diabetes, a crumbling spine and 2 arms that don't work anymore plus goodness knows what else it's really not good for him. I do all the things that he can't do anymore like making the beds and shopping and my brother has taken over the garden which helps, but Dad still wants to do so much and gets very frustrated by his inability to do it. A few weeks ago, I went round to find him on the floor unable to get up. Instead of using his mop (he insists on doing the cleaning himself) he had decided he would be able to do a much better job using the floor cloth!!! I know that sounds terrible that I don't clean for him but there are so many things that he just won't accept any help with. It's a nightmare. We've looked at getting someone to go in to help him, but no "I'm not ready for that yet". Bless them, they do make you smile so much and I love hin to pieces but he does my head in sometimes!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baby bears mum Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 The tables do get turned don't they. Kids taking care of parents. I love mine dearly too but sometimes ........... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 I've instructed The Boy that if he sees me turning into my Mum, to put a bag over my head and tie it tightly. (compostable bag of course) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 Some of us find out sooner than others My parents have been staying with me since May after my mum had a major stroke and my dad is just so useless I had to make him change the bed the other week as he just wasn't going to he thought if he left it long enough I would do it in the end it got done at 10 at night because I just ignored it so he had to and boy was he grumpy about it Eventually they have to cope alone they can't stay with me forever and he has to learn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 Some of us find out sooner than others My parents have been staying with me since May after my mum had a major stroke and my dad is just so useless I had to make him change the bed the other week as he just wasn't going to he thought if he left it long enough I would do it in the end it got done at 10 at night because I just ignored it so he had to and boy was he grumpy about it Eventually they have to cope alone they can't stay with me forever and he has to learn That's a shame Louise, because his stubborn-ness must create an atmosphere at home for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 It does a bit but I have to be hard on him or how is he going to cope in the future It isn't difficule to put a duvet cover on and he just pretends he can't do things which is what he did all along with my mum so she would do it for him he tries the same with me but at the back of my mind I know if I am not there he has no choice so he has to learn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 There are lots of men like that Louise! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joojoo Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 (edited) I think you have to be cruel to be kind Louise. Otherwise you will end up running yourself into the ground My Dad physically can't make the bed any more but he is very adept at stripping it and chucking it in the washing machine without telling me. I got a phone at 9.30pm one night when he was just going to bed to say that he had stripped it but forgotten to tell me so I had to go tearing round there just to make the bed. I've told him so many times that it would only take me 1 minute to strip it, put it in a bag and take it home to wash, but he thinks he is helping me by doing it himself and saving me having to wash it edited to add that I have to bring the wet bedding home anyway to dry as he hasn't got a dryer and because of the problems with his arms he can't use the washing line! Edited February 28, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 Sounds like we need a combination of the two Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joojoo Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 At least we are still smiling Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillfamily Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 Last September I bought my eighty year old Dad a bonsai tree for his birthday - a seven year old nicely established tree that I thought he would enjoy looking after with the occasional spray of water, bit of pruning etc. I went to visit last week: "How's the bonsai doing?" I said "Marvellously love" he said, "Doing much better in a bigger pot now the roots have got chance to spread out a bit!" sorry to take the thread back.............but that is a classic..........will make me chuckle all evening I'm lucky as my mum is still young (and young at heart) :D She's just got her bus pass, refuses to retire and has booked herself on a trip to India this Autumn as she wants to go to the Pushka (sp?) Camel Fair Mind you I'm off round hers tomorrow as she needs me to sort out her pension paperwork Her paperwork has never been up to date since I left home 20 years ago Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 Last September I bought my eighty year old Dad a bonsai tree for his birthday Great minds . I bought my MIL a small bonsai tree a few years ago for her birthday. It is still alive and flourishing - having never been pruned . She got the instruction booklet with it but obviously never even looked at it . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 (edited) Him Indoors late father used to unlpug the fridge at night before he went to bed. He also soldered the safety valve down on MIL's ancient lethal pressure cooker, because he didn't like the steam and hissing. Mercifully they were out in the garden when it exploded or they would have both been killed. What age did he finally make it to? 84.......she lasted till 90. They had Him Indoors late, and he is a lot older than me so they were old enough to be my grandparents. Edited February 29, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted February 29, 2008 Share Posted February 29, 2008 Last September I bought my eighty year old Dad a bonsai tree for his birthday - a seven year old nicely established tree that I thought he would enjoy looking after with the occasional spray of water, bit of pruning etc. I went to visit last week: "How's the bonsai doing?" I said "Marvellously love" he said, "Doing much better in a bigger pot now the roots have got chance to spread out a bit!" That is priceless Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
