I'm tired of cooking/preparing 3 meals a day. It's just the two of us but boy oh boy can that woman eat!! She stays slimish, I get fattish. It's bad enough I do everything here much less start making her one thing and me the other. At times I feel guilty when I buy her fast food cuz of the nutritional value....not to mention I eat it too.
Trying to help my Mom understand it's June 1st and she doesn't need to wear a turtleneck, under her sweater also heavy knit pants to church today.. Oh forgot she wants to wear winter coat!!
Siblings never forget anything and like to remind you of it all the time! You probably said many times how you hate to cook! So now they think you aren't allowed to change your mind.. If only they listened to you when you said that you hated changing your father or dealing with his cathetar!! Next time remind them of that.. "Or sure you listened to me when I said I didn't want to cook, but it falls on deaf ears when I don't want to change Dad".
You have mastered so many things and cooking is going to be added to your list.
There are many excellent cooks on this site. If there weren't their loved ones would not live such long lives (whether thay want them to or not) so you may get lots of yummy easy recipes,
First of all get round to the library and find a good cook book on low cholesterol foods. I know a fried sausage egg and bacon is really yummy and OK as a treat ocessionally but it is really bad for the cholesterol. How about an egg, tomatos, mushrooms and baked beans? Hugs for making a start
Me personally, I do it because I have to but I don't enjoy it!!
The produce manager might give you a quick lesson or (dare I say it) fav sis might got with you.
You can go to a high end grocery store and pick up everything and look it over. Then go round a cheap store and you will see the difference. Make sure you wash everything well before you use it as they are covered in pesticides. You can google "choosing fresh vegetables" and I am sure you will find something. Keep up the good work. you may even find evening classes to begining cooks.
I think the reason why I dislike cooking had to do with my Mom.... when I was a kid trying to cook something, I was always using the wrong bowl, or the wrong spoon, or the wrong this or that.... so I decided enough was enough. I decided to shadow my Dad and he taught me how to fix things letting me decide what to use with his guidance.
Feeling very hurt by my kids today, and just not sure what to do with all this pain.
Older son got involved with a bad crowd right out of high school and ended up in jail for B&E (all the other offenders were bailed out by their parents - I made him sit in there and serve his time - told him this was one lesson he better learn the first time) - then he ended up on drugs and had to go through rehab - but got kicked out for not following the rules (he tried to help someone else sneak in an internet router and hook it up, which was against the rules - and he knew it). He now has a 1-yr-old son he never sees, doesn't support (court is pursuing him on that to take out of his paycheck) and never even bothers to send anything for the child. I send diapers once a month because I feel it's unfair for the mother to be saddled with everything. The mother is very emotionally unstable, bounces between saying we can see the baby anytime we want, then saying the next week that we can only visit him at her home and not take him anywhere (we've never done anything to justify that kind of restriction), and says we can't post pictures of him on Facebook or anywhere else (I understand that concern, but she goes ballistic and threatens to report us to the police for "abuse" if we post pictures instead of calmly asking us not to post them - so we don't post anything at all now, we don't even share the pictures she's posted). I don't even attempt to see the baby now, because I don't trust her. She lives 2 hrs away from me, and I worry that if I try to see him, she will change her mind at the last minute and I will have waste a trip, which I can scarcely afford to do.
Older son now has a full-time job, but still won't bother to do anything for his child - buy diapers, clothing or anything. He used to stay in touch with me every week, but now rarely contacts me. He will drive an hour north to see his sister, but will not drive an hour and a half east to see me unless I give him gas money - and then he lies to me and gives me an inflated figure for what it costs for gas and spends it on something else. I had been helping him with groceries for a while - I told him as long as he was sending *something* to the baby's mother once a week - even just $50 - I would help him out with groceries so he didn't go hungry. I didn't give him cash - I took him to the store and bought him food. Turns out he was lying to me - he never paid her anything unless I was right there to see him hand her the money - which amounted to about $200 over the course of the first year of the baby's life. So I stopped helping him at all, and now he ignores me.
Daughter is 26 and has 2 children by 2 different men, neither of which is involved in the child's life, and neither pays child support. She dropped out of high school as soon as she was old enough, because she simply didn't want to do the work required to finish - a bitter disappointment to me. I *made* her get a GED, so she would at least have that. She has never held a job for more than a few months at a time before quitting or getting fired. She didn't even know who the father of the 2nd baby was until it was born and we saw who he looked like. By that time, she was involved with someone else (a prescription painkiller addict who had done jail time for stealing his mother's painkillers when she was suffering from cancer, was fresh out of rehab, can't drive due to multiple DUI's - no license, and who milked an insurance claim against my insurance when he was involved in a rollover accident I had last year when I hit some black ice - he wasn't wearing a seatbelt even though I asked him to. He got $30k out of it and still claims he's permanently disabled and wants more. Oh - and he told us long before the accident that he'd had a previous back injury that paralyzed him for 6 weeks -seeing a pattern here?? Ins. co. knew about the previous injury and all of his activities posted on Facebook showing he wasn't as badly injured as he claimed - but they paid him anyway. He and my daughter ran through that $30k in 3 months and have nothing to show for it. Nice guy, huh?) She is now married to him.
Youngest lives with his dad in another state, over 650 miles away, and I can only afford to make trips to see him once a year (every week-long trip is $2000+ because of the distance, lodging, food, etc). It was his choice to go live with his dad 4 years ago - and he wanted to come back a year later, but his dad got his hooks into him and made him feel guilty about wanting to come back here...so now he'll never come back. Now that he's established in school down there, has friends there, and feels he shouldn't leave because he feels he should stay with his dad..I never get to see him unless I make a trip. I miss school events, important things happening in his life, etc - I don't even get pictures of him anymore - not school pictures, special event pictures...nothing. It's like I don't exist anymore, and it really hurts. His father will never let him come back to live with me, because he blames me for how our older son turned out - like his choice to break into buildings and steal things and then get hooked on drugs is my fault. He keeps telling me that if our older son had stayed with him instead of moving back with me, he would have never turned out this way - something he keeps throwing in our youngest son's face as well - that he doesn't want to turn out like his brother. Anytime the youngest makes a mistake or does some of the normal dumb stuff teenagers do (slacking on homework, getting a little mouthy, etc), he slams him with that - "you're going to turn out just like your brother".
I call him (or he calls me) every week. Today I learned that he had been baptized and became a member of his church. That hurt SO much - he never told me he was doing it, nor did his father. I am missing out on so much because his father is "too busy" with his new family to do anything towards keeping me informed (his new family includes a baby that was born with kidney failure and will require a transplant). We have had bitter arguments over the fact that he doesn't keep me informed on anything.
Some days - like today - I sit down and wonder where the heck I went wrong and what I did to deserve this. I guess you could call it a pity party or empty nest syndrome, and I'll be over it by tomorrow, but dang it, it hurts. I did the best I could with my kids after my husband left for another woman (the one he's married to now). I was a single parent with 3 kids trying to be both mom and dad to them, and I know I didn't always make the best choices. However, I didn't do drugs, drink, go out partying (other than going to a singles dance now and then), or bring guys home that they didn't know. For the most part, I didn't even date after my divorce - the one time I tried, I got freaked out and broke up with the guy because I was scared he'd turn out to be like my ex. I never dated again, and still don't. I tried to take the kids to church whenever I wasn't working on a Sunday, kept them involved in school activities, took them fishing and on road trips whenever we could, and did simple things like dancing in the rain and wading in creeks with them, teaching them about nature and life and love. Yet I am now almost completely uninvolved in their lives, other than the occasional phone call, Facebook message or text. I know it is not my fault that they turned out to be something other than what I hoped for them, but darn it....it sure feels like it some days.
I guess I'm just confused and hurt. I have *so* much on my plate right now with my work and caring for Mom (which is steadily more difficult as time goes by and she loses more of her mobility). I have to figure out how to afford a trip north to where we released my dad's ashes, plus the trip to see my son, plus paying for the supplies and labor for the work being done on the house, and now, to top it off, we have to look at getting a walk-in-shower sooner than planned for Mom, because she's no longer able to lift her leg over the tub, so I'm having to help with that, and there's a definite fall risk there. No idea if Medicare will pay for such a thing - but probably not. So there's something else that has to come out of my pocket, unless we can get Mom approved for a grant through HUD to do that. (sigh) I'm working about 70 hours a week right now trying to make extra money for these trips and extra expenses with the house. I'm only 43, but I'm definitely feeling much older lately!
Just having a bad day, I guess! Thanks for letting me vent.
My sister doesnt cook so my father expects me to wait on her hand and foot when she comes to visit. I dont do as much cooking as I did before I moved in with Dad and thats for a couple of reasons. One, he is now like a child in that if you are cooking something he wants it too. The other reason I do not cook as much is because his weekday caregiver takes over the kitchen each day. If I am in there, she finds to go into the kitchen also. Whatever I use,it always winds up being something "she was going to use" GRRRRRRR. She is nice enough to leave enough for me and my children when she cooks a large meal for my father. Then she goes behind my back and complains that she does more than she should. I dont ask her to leave anything for us.
You certainly are still young and have a lot of life ahead. I guess you were very young when you had your first child maybe still in high school and not married. If the two elder have gone down the wrong path their father also has contributed to that.
How involved was he is raising the children? Did he pay his child support on time every month? Did he work under the table so you never got enough? You did the best you knew how and now the youngest is living with Dad probably at least partly to avoid paying you support.
If your son is happy in the situation leave him be. let him grow up and you may find he wants to be closer to you when he is more mature. Hopefully he is doing well in school and will have a decent career ahead. I would not pay out money you can not afford to go and see him. He can make an effort to come and see you and his grandmother. By all means pay his fare, but that's it. A decent father would help his son visit his family.
As far as the other two are concerned stop enabling either of them. they have some hard lessons still to learn. The court will catch up with him and he will have to pay up including arears. If he doen't it will be back to prison. I know they are your kids but tough love is in order here.
As far a Mom's walk in shower is concerned Medicare probably won't pay but HUD might or you may find a charity to help.
In the meantime install a detachable shower head in the bath tub if there is already a shower. you can buy one for about $25 and do it yourself. you just unscrew the existing one and screw the next one on. Buy a wide shower chair. one of those that sits with on pair of legs on the floor and one in the bath. Have Mom sit on the seat outside the tub and while she hangs onto the arms swing one leg over the side and then have her scoot over a bit then you lift her other leg in. She can wash herself sitting on the chair using the hand held. You will have to help her more but even if you get a walk in shower she probably wont be safe on her own anymore. That would be a much cheaper option if she agrees to try that. You may be able to find a used shower chair for $5- 10. Another option would be to install one of the walk in tubs. I don't know how the costs would compare, but I think they can be installed in one day.
Try and stop focussing on what you don't have and make the best of what you have been blessed with. Call your local health dept and see if Mom can qualify for some nursing care to give her a bath a couple of times a week or can she afford to pay for help herself. She must at least have SS so you don't have to pay for everything and work such long hours.
I don't help either of the older kids at all anymore - I had to finally tell myself what you just said - that I was only enabling them and allowing them to walk over me by trying to do what I thought was best - in the long run, it wasn't doing them any favors.
Mom has a bath seat and a hand-held showerhead - this issue with lifting her legs over the tub is a fairly recent development. She still won't let me help her shower, but at the very least she *is* showering, except on weeks when she gets a little resistant to it, so I'm thankful for that.
I am very thankful for what I have - and I do feel better tonight. I just needed to vent.
Somehow I need to push moms 800 lb bed up against the wall...she fell or just plain got up and out on the wrong side, fell between the wall and bed. About 18 inches of space. Didn't call out, didn't knock knock knock like she usually does...actually, I think she fell asleep because she had all the covers and a blanket on top of her. Took me 30 minutes to get her out of that predicament... leg cramps from h*ll and taken residence in her thighs. Warm/wet towel and me clearing out her room so I could put a sheet under her butt and pull her out finally did the trick. Whew! Poor thing is snoozing in the recliner now. Just awful. This disease is AWFUL!!
Not sure if moving the bed against the wall is a good idea or not. It will make it double difficult to change the lines and keep her nice n tidy. Maybe I can find some bed rails for that side?
On a side/funny note. I did find a lot of her missing things carefully tucked/hidden away on the far side of her bed under the mattress. LOL no wonder she think's I'm taking her "stuff". It was a goldmine of goodies!! Also I noted several of her patches stuck inside the bed frame. She normally never messes with her meds but lately even seems to be changing.
Can you get Mom a body pillow? Wal Mart has them for around $10. It's just enough of a barrier to stop her from rolling over it and off the bed, unless she's extremely determined or rolls violently. They're about 2.5-3' long and would extend down the side of the bed by the wall to keep her from rolling out. Bed rails would also help.
I love this site and all of the wonderful caregivers :))
There comes a time when you have to consider at least assisted living or a nursing home, for both your sakes, where there is professional care 24/7. I cared for my mother in her home for four years - gave up my home and career (after tax $250,000 salary lost) to live in her freezing basement at her beck and call 24/7 and spent every few days at the ER until she had the final big fall and went to a nursing home.
Life long she's been an evil, manipulative narcissist, still thinks she can lay in her bed and people will run after her but she's discovering that's not the case. She made no effort to associate with anyone (unless there was something in it for her), and she has no friends.
She will not associate with anyone in the NH, just lays in bed and expects people to run to her. Not happening! I've been telling her for 15 years since my dad died, go do, but nope, I am supposed to be her source of entertainment. I pay her bills, take care of her needs but she's been the mother from hell my whole life.
She never lifted a manicured finger to help her 80+ parents, though she lived around the corner but, when, reminded, she says "Oh, I regret that" - yeah she was too busy going on cruises and living the high life. Didn't help them any did it
Bottom line, you need to put the person you care for into care, your sake and theirs.
Two more "wines" today and please let this Monday just slip away to Tuesday.
Yesterday I used my brothers cell phone cuz mine doesn't get reception in the boonies. I was sending my oldest brother a text telling him we were there. Saw another text from my SIL whom lives far far away with the anointed. She takes my texts, sends them to my brothers here and say's i'm losing it but no one asked me to do this for mom so it's all my fault. Yes they did my dad asked me. I get very angry in regards to those long distance back seat no nothings who do zero but criticize.
2nd wine.... mom just came out of the bathroom, she was very agitated and was fumbling around trying to open the door to go into the back yard. Upon further inspection of her bathroom..... she missed the toilet by at least 5 feet. Did manage to hit the drawers and the floor. Nope. Not pee.
Good thing I just bought a jumbo pack of Lysol Wipe Up's.
I UNDERSTAND that she is bored sometimes (which she swore to me yesterday she doesn't get bored). BUT....Heare I come home from the grocery store and notice she hasn't eaten her lunch yet (it's in the fridge). She's eating crackers and asking me where her peanuts are (She goes through peanuts like toilet paper). I tell her to eat her lunch first. Then I proceed to set up the house for the afternoon's heat (90's today) by turning on fans, drawing shades, etc. and go in my room to relax for a bit. Since I was up late and rose early I am feeling kinda sleepy. So in this brief quiet moment, I lay down on my bed with my fan on. I have my book on my lap thinking I'll read a bit but I drift off instead. I wake an hour later (I never take long naps) and I hear the house noise is quiet so I figure she must have gone in her room to nap. I pick up my book, there are bird noises outside--house feels peaceful. I start to read and I hear her come out of her room. Mind you, her bedroom door is adjacent to mine, and I hear her go to back door (which is also near my room ) and do "something", mumble some negative thought out loud---as she does often---and walk back to the other room. Disruptive as it was, I breathe, ignore and go back to my book.
Now I may be imagining things but I SWEAR--she starts this grunting sound as she passes my door. I don't hear her do it when she gets in her room though. I roll my eyes and, again, go back to my book. A moment later, she comes back out of her bedroom door and out loud comes this huge 'moan/groan/sigh' --just like her mother used to do. This, of course, is her bored, hate life moan. Then the grunting (all by my door). I try to go back to my reading but she has ruined the peaceful moment.
Even......EVEN if I were to go out there and be available to talk it would be the same old conversations that I have come to know .....i.e. "Who was your father or who was I married to? What did your father die of? I sure wish I knew about golf when I was young. Do you have any interest in playing golf "....and the like. It's the same stuff over and over and over and over again. Makes it hard to converse. Even if I bring up and interesting subject she will always respond with, The weather sure is lovely---you couldn't ask for better weather".
Such is a typical day.