How to handle stress and uncertainty of Mom?

Hadnuff, it sounds like you have a significant amount of anxiety. Think about how you can approach this. Yoga, mediation, breathing and relation techniques can all work, but you need to practice them so that when you need the tool, you've got it at your disposal.

Hadnuff, remember we will always be the "kid" even if we ourselves are considered senior citizens :P

Sounds like you are going through the "what ifs" if you don't drive to see her. I know how that can feel.

I guess part of my problem is my feelings of guilt. Not a lot, but some. I always did what mom said. Or felt I had to do it cause she wanted me to. It was only a few years ago that I realized I didn't have to do something just because mom wanted me to. And I am 62 years old.

Hadnuff, I went back in to read some of your other past postings. Do you really need to visit her at the hospital? I see your Mom has her brother [or your brother] living with her who seems to be making a lot of the decisions for here. Can't he deal with this issue for now?

I don't blame you for not wanting to drive on the beltways or super highways. I try to keep off them, too. It never use to bother me driving on those roads, but since helping out my parents these past 6 years [they still live alone], I want to do less and less driving.