Parents

YOUR PARENTS AND GROWING UP

Families are very different today from when you were kids. I am sure you have great stories to tell of parents who worked hard to provide for their families. Many mum's did not work as they were busy raising a large family and to quote the old saying " a women's place was in the home".

Leave a comment about your parents and family when you were growing up.

YOUR PARENTS TODAY

Your role may be changing as your parents become older and you now become their carers. Perhaps you have already suffered the lose of one or both of your parents. Are you learning about conditions like Alzheimers, dementia or cancer and how to deal these conditions in your parents?

Share your stories of what's happening today and the challenges you are facing with your parents.

Please leave us a comment:

Name:
Year of Birth:
Location:
Comment:
    

Comments:

Robyn

from Brisbane
born 1958 		My parents are alive and have only had some bowel probs, one knee surgery & cataracts removed for both of them. Mum is 81 and Dad 89 in Sept and live in the same house of 42 years. They fight and argue when we are there, when we are on the phone & when we aren't there. They don't see anyone except family & now meals on wheels lady. They aren't happy with anything or feel privileged with longevity. I get depressed planning to see them & sigh with relief when the visit is over. No I don't feel awful. My 3 adult children don't want to see them as my mother and father have said and done some miserable things to them - I understand and go alone. This year they have their first Will drawn up. Same 3 cars (all fully insured and registered), curtains, clothing, carpets, bedspreads etc. They argue with my older sis (born 55) and younger brother ( born 70) too. I call them the living dead and think their lives have been wasted when others die so young its not fair is it!!

Comment posted: 5th August 2011, 01:14:30 pm
David

from Carrickalinga
born 1952 		A friend of mine recently lost his mum. He is one of 8 sons that this dear old lady had. Unfortunately she passed away in a nursing home not able to recognise any of her sons. Alzheimer's is a hideous condition. The good thing in this case was shared by my friend. When asked how his mum had been coping, he said that the sadness of her memory loss was far outweighed by the fact that she was very happy in the nursing home. She did not remember anything from the previous day and was really happy to see anyboby who came to see her. He said she gets to see new people every day. In this case it was not meant as a joke. It was seen as a blessing and as such gave her family great comfort as she had always liked meeting new people. Thank God for small mercies.

Comment posted: 14th July 2011, 12:04:01 am
David

from Carrickalinga
born 1952 		Today I bumped into a friend who told me that her dad had passed away on Saturday after suffering a stroke on the previous Tuesday. She told me that the funeral was being held as we spoke. She did not go to her dad's funeral because they hadn't spoken for 6 years. They hadn't spoken because she didn't go to the funeral for her mother. The reason she gave was that it would cause too much of a problem with her siblings.
This is so sad. The reasons for her not going to these celebrations of the lives of her own parents are none of my business and I do not know the reason why she made her decision to not attend nor do I want to know its just that I think that her decision is a forever decision. One that can never be taken back. One for which she can never apologize and one she will probably never forget. Please friends, don't let unforgiveness of old grievences potentially ruin your future peace of mind. Life's too short.

Comment posted: 17th June 2011, 12:04:06 am
Robyn

from Browns Plains
born 1954 		I have to agree with Colin that Altzheimers is a very cruel way for a person to go.  It is very difficult to see someone you love suffer from this as they can get very frustrated when they forget how to do things.  I watched my mother-in-law go from a lady who could cook a great meal for all the family to someone who in the end could not even make a cup of tea. I treasure the time I got to spend with her in those last years.
A great lady - saldy missed.

Comment posted: 22nd May 2011, 08:26:16 pm
Colin

from Tailem Bend S. A.
born 1953 		My mum died when i was seven and i was bought up by dad and my grandmother ,I have 1 sister and we had a great life growing up.We were encouraged to play sport even though Dad had very bad eyesight and he couldnt watch us.Dad worked very hard he had his day job as a storeman packer that he had for 33 years as well as 6 acres of Almond Trees. He would work tirelesly to make a good home for me and my sister and we never wanted for anything. Granny was a rock as well,she treated us like her own. As dad couldnt drive granny took both of us and a car load of team mates to our sport. Sadly dad was taken from us in 2005 with Altzheimers a very cruel way to go for such a great person. Granny had a good life she was 94 when she past in 1994.

Comment posted: 21st May 2011, 04:17:13 pm
David

from Carrickalinga SA
born 1952 		...more about my Dad. How sad is this? My Dad was 80, that right 80 years old when his mother passed away. My dear old Gran passed away on July 22nd 2006 just 7 hours before her 106th birthday. She lost Grandad in April 1998 when he was in his 97th year. They were coming up for their 76TH!!!!! Wedding anniversary and just before he died, Grandad told me he always got in the last word with Gran. He said "Yes, Dear" Just imagine this. My Gran was alive during the time of EVERY Prime Minister in the history of Australia. She was at the time of her passing, so passed one of only a few left who attended the opening of the FIRST parliamentary sitting Australia. SHe was there with her parents. Her Dad was one of the buglers at the opening ceremony.

Comment posted: 14th May 2011, 11:37:07 pm
David

from Carrickalinga SA
born 1952 		My dad is 86 in October this year and he really is a Grumpy Old Man. He played A Grade cricket in Adelaide before and then after WW2. He captained a top level A grade team and was up for Sheffield Shield selection when the war started. After he came home the desire was not as intense as it had been so he settled for just playing and keeping fit. As he grew older, he realised just how good he had been. Just ask  him. He could have bowled out Bradman and beaten him with the bat too. His latest sport is yelling at joggers through the window of his car. He tells them to get off the road and go to a park. He even has a T-Shirt that has the logo "Certified NON-Jogger". He is a bit of a worry. Sadly my wife seems to think I am becoming like him in too many ways. I love physical activity, I can sit and watch it for hours.

Comment posted: 13th May 2011, 09:32:19 am
David

from Carrickalinga SA
born 1952 		My Mum is nearly 81. She's been by herself for 18 years but is so busy she says she doesn't have time to be lonely. 2009 just after she turned 79 she decided to go away by herself. My eldest cousin was turning 60 and as his Mum had passed away, my Mum thought it only right that she should make the effort to be there with him for the big day. The only problem was that he lives in Leichtenstein. No big deal says Mum. I'll be OK I've got Jesus to travel with me. She flew to Hong Kong then to London visited some friends in Kent, had lunch back in London then caught the Eurotunnel Train to Brussells. where she was ripped off by a taxi driver, 81 Euros for a 10 minute trip. 2 weeks touring Europe with my cousin and his wife then home again all by herself.

Comment posted: 10th March 2011, 11:57:13 pm
Robyn

from Runcorn
born 1954 		I recently was speaking on the phone to my mum who lives in a different state when she had a major blackout. I cannot believe the timing as I was able to ring her neighbour and get help for her straight away.  After some days in hospital Mum will go to a nursing home for a rest and assessment to see if she can continue living at home.  The words RETIREMENT VILLAGE have now been mentioned to mum's horror but it is a real possibility due to the continuing medical problems.  It is a matter of waiting to see what develops over the coming weeks but all we want is for mum to be safe.
Talking to others who were born in the fifties I think there are many of us dealing with similar issues relating to our parents.

Comment posted: 26th January 2011, 09:13:47 pm
Robyn

from Runcorn
born 1954 		My mum has always been a very busy lady being very involved in the local church, community groups and in school activities when were where growing up. She started painting after we left home and now has a great collection of watercolour and oil paintings proudly displayed around the house. The local museum is one of her passions and she received an Australian of the Year award a couple of years ago for her services to the local community, in particular the museum.  She is slowing down a little but still goes to painting every week and is hard to find at home during the day.

Comment posted: 6th July 2010, 04:16:07 pm

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