First thing this morning, I spoke with my mother-in-law. She has recently had to make an emergency flight to FL to care for her 92 year old mother, Races' grandmother. " Gammy" to all of us. It seems that Gammy was treated absolutely horribly in the hospital down there, and as soon as Races' mom was aware, she was on a plane. She has been feverishly making plans to bring Gammy home in order to give her the round-the-clock care that she needs. Races' mom is one of those people who was born to be a caregiver. She is the kind of person who would do whatever needed to be done, without giving it a thought. A comforter.My mom is like this too. Ask anyone. It's true. they know how to be sure that you are warm and dry and comfortable and well fed with just the right kinds of foods. What a blessing these kinds of people are on this earth.
Now, I will go ahead and level with you here. This sort of care giving could not be more foreign to me. I mean it. If you are sick for more than 2 days in this house, you'd better hire outside help. ********Now, isn't that sad? But, alas, there's the ugly truth. What a shock it must have been to Races' system the first time that he got sick after we were married! Poor thing. I mean, I start off with the best of intentions, but after a few days, it's all I can do not to yell from the other room, "C'MON! YOU DON'T HAVE TO BREATHE THAT LOUD!" It's funny, because after our first year of marriage, I can't think of him ever being sick enough to miss work. I guess he just figured, "What's the use". Poor guy.
You know, when we were growing up, I don't ever remember seeing my dad, sick. And my dad NEVER, and I mean NEVER missed work. Maybe in my wee brain I processed that into, "Men aren't supposed to be sick." I dunno. I am better with the kids, but still, nothing compared to my mom, or Race's mom. And while I didn't get the "caregiver" gene, I do believe that my daughter Savannah got it. She is a sweetie and is such a good helper. She truly tries to make people feel better. I, on the other hand, approach these things in more of a determined...."well, what the h*ll are we gonna DO about it?" Come to think of it, I think those words come DIRECTLY from my dad. Yes. My dad. Whose idea of fun was to pull out his pocket knife and pretend that he was about to CUT the tiny splinter from the sole of his daughters delicate foot, that she had so trustingly given him. (Incidently, we got a lot of splinters, and he did this to all of us, so you would think that we would have caught on at some point). My dad. Whose words of comfort were, "Well, I don't know what good crying's gonna do about it!" Have I mentioned that there were only us three GIRLS in the family? Poor dad.
So, I guess dad gave us our strength, and mom gave us our comforting. And wouldn't ya jus know..........it worked out! And as for me...........I am so thankful for the true caregivers in this world and equally thankful that the members of my family seem to be healthy as an ox. ( as oxen?)
Sending out prayers for Gammy and prayers for Dy tonight.
G'night,
Melissa
8 comments:
Well, this post made the memories just come a-flowin'! LOL!! I so remember the pocket knife/splinter gag. And who could forget all the things that a fresh cowpie could heal? Do you know I have actually caught myself saying to my poor, poor sons "Well, crying is not going to help." And then cringe. AAHHH!!! I AM DAD!!
I guess I too missed out on the caregiver gene.
Prayers are being said for Gammy!
ONE MORE THING...THANK GOD FOR MOM! REALLY!! I mean I love Dad (let's face it I am his clone in female form), but COME ON!! Could you imagine if Mom were not there to balance it all out?
Great post!
That was a great post! Yeh, Mom and Dad kinda balanced one another out.
Oh, and you forgot to mention that once the pocket knife charade and the threats involving a still-steaming cowpie were through, then out came the the flaming needle of pain--FOR REAL! :0O
Well,at least that's how I remember it, LOL! ;0)
Prayers going up for Gammy and Race's mom!
You sound like my mom. She has NO tolerance for sickness, in herself or anyone else. She was always great with us, but it is "work" for her to be a caregiver. I never knew she felt this way until I was grown and gone, so obviously she hid it well.
Prayers for Race's mom and grandmother. (Incidentally, my children call my mom Grammy, but before Will could say his r's, she was Gammy.)
I am going to start watching for a post saying, "HE'S HOME!" I have faith. ("Cause you gotta have faith, faith, faith"--lyric flashback. Who sung that anyway?...Couldn't stand it, had to open a new internet window and find out--George Michaels.)
I enjoyed your reminiscing. It brought back a few memories of my own. Isn't it great how God matches up couples that are a perfect balancing act? Reminds me of Dy's Zen Water Cave post. :)
Take care, Lynette
ROFL Melissa! This sounds like my husband (my poor kids). He'll say silly things like "Is it broken? Let's cut it off" but they aren't even horrified anymore, they just roll their eyes...LOL His favorite is threatening to tie a string around the kids loose tooth if it doesn't come out. Or he'll say "Cm'mere, lemme clean it for you". But, unlike his uncle, he does NOT rip it out. eek
It's funny how parents tend to balance huh? I don't have patience for DH when he's sick because he doesn't have patience for me when I am. Or sympathy anyway. I know, petty but I'm human! LOL
ROFLOL!! I am not really a natural caregiver, either. When Kevin gets sick he feels the need to call me.every.hour.to tell me his symptoms! One time I actually said, Do you want me to just kill you and put you out of your misery? That went over like a lead balloon!
When the kids tell me their gonna barf my first thought is usually, RUN TO THE TOILET!!! LOL
I do have sympathy for them, just so long as their not pukin' on my floors. *snort*
Okay, I'm having to do this over. some day I will learn how to work this thing! Thank you for the compliments! I don't deserve them. When I think of all the times my sister cared for our parents While I lived eleswhere or worked. She managed to raise three boys and work while doing so. Life certainly takes some strange twists. I hope things are working out for Race's homecoming. I hope i will be able to come as planned but will have ato wait and see. Mom is going to need around the clock care but time will tell. I certainly do miss the children and wish I could see them now. There is nothing like grandchildren! The last pictue you sent didn't come through. Thank the family for the prayers. Grandmama
How sweet that she came to read your words Melissa. You are such a blessing to everyone around you!
Oh and btw, I thought of this post yesterday when my daughter hurt her arm and was being overly dramatic (I hope) and her cries were going right through me. I had to force myself to keep holding her and not say, "SUCK IT UP girl". That's terrible! I don't know where that comes from!
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