I have always taken good care of and helped my mom. In addition, she stayed with me and my family for months at a time after each of five hospitalizations--2 knee replacements, 2 hip replacements, and a calcium overdose. At her request, I visited assisted living facilities all over our area with her and without her because she lived in a second floor apartment and was having trouble with the stairs.
I chose not to move my mom into our home because I had just finished taking care of my dad with dementia for two years in a nursing home with no help from my other four siblings, and I just felt I couldn't. Also after the hospitalizations, I started getting stressed and snippy with my mom, who could be difficult and judgmental. I was now stressed from the two years with my dad, and felt I couldn't do it at that time--especially with no help from anyone else. We ultimately got her into an assisted living and retired about six months later, just as COVID was becoming known.
My husband and I had been planning to retire out of state, and after settling my mom in her assisted living for about six months, we moved. Before making the move, I checked with my brother who lives in the area and who did her grocery shopping to make sure it was okay to leave, and also my adult daughter assured me she would help her grandma so I should go.
When I was settled for about a month, I started asking my mom to allow me to move her near me, but she kept saying no. Ultimately, she got COVID in the fall of last year and died.
It's been six months and I am struggling and feeling lost without her. I feel so much guilt for not moving her into my home. I was so beaten down by the years with my dad and her, and I was also pulling away from her emotionally and I know she could feel it--I was there when my dad died and the pain was too much. I needed time and thought I would have time to "fix" it all. How do I deal with this pain and guilt?
Also the guilt is about how I was pushing her away when she needed me most. I know now that it didn't help me avoid pain, but that's why I did it and I so regret it.
I am going to try to find a counselor. Thank you all for your help.
People say it all the time don't they? I just looked up the actual meaning of *loss* : the fact or process of losing something or someone.
It IS a process. I don't think it can just switch off after a month, 6 months, a year or whenever. I think it is perfectly OK to feel this loss. To feel sad you miss your Mom.
What can you do to connect to the good memories you have of her?
A friend put a favourite photo where she could see it every day. When she walked past she smiles at her & says Love You Mom.
I'd like to make a pre-retirement move. I'd love to have a small part of the garden with a nice chair & some gentle plants. A peaceful spot to remember those I loved & outlived.
I suspect there are certain personalities that gravitate towards healing & caring more than some other types. They can sometimes feel they must take on care roles or fix things but forget how important self-care is too.
Imagine giving your Mom a big warm hug today. For both of you. Tell her you are sorry, about Covid & about old age. Then ponder what would make you feel peaceful today?
My own mother has lived in AL since 2014 and I suffer no guilt about that decision whatsoever. Why should I? She gets great care there, so it's not like I've done a bad thing.
Feeling lost now w/o your mother is one thing; feeling guilty for her death is another. You should expect to feel grief, anything else is unwarranted. We 'children' cannot fix our parents' issues or extend their lives in any way, much as we might like to. Please get some counseling/therapy so you can allow yourself to live a full life now, free from the all consuming burden of guilt you're assigning yourself.
My condolences over the loss of your dear mom.
Your mom certainly wouldn't want you feeling bad over any of the choices made. She chose to stay where she was, and unfortunately she got Covid. That's not your fault. I am a firm believer that when it's our time to go, it's our time to go, no matter what, so there's nothing you could have done to prevent her death.
I hope and pray that you will seek out some grief counseling to help you work through all the feelings you're having. And please allow yourself to grieve not only your mom, but your dad as well. God bless you.
Liz