I am sitting at my desk at 6:45 AM. I have begun coming to work very early so I can get home for dinner. The girls seem to prefer that I get home to eat with them. Frankly, I like it better anyway. I am more productive early in the morning, today not withstanding. I love spending time with the kids, and this way I get to spend more time with them.
Lily is now 5 1/2 (or close to it). I can't believe how big she is getting. She is asking so many questions about everything. She (and her sister, Lucy) have begun the death questions. When is Charlie going to die (our very old dog), how did Veronica die (my sister), why did she die, when are you going to die, when is lucy going to die, why do people die, is the table dead?
These questions are normal, I know, but they are harder to answer, particularly when it is about me or their mom. We always tell them, don't worry about that. People die when their bodies just don't work any more and usually that happens when they get old. Of course, the follow up question is Brown Papa (my dad, their grandpa) is old. MaMa is old. Nanny is old. Papa Erwin is old. True enough, but their bodies are working right now.
It has made me reflect, though, on the fact that my parents (and in-laws) are getting old. I have not had to deal with the loss of a parent, but with parents who are 69 and soon to be 71, it is clear that things are going to wind down. Not to be morbid, but how do you deal with older parents. Knowing my parents, they will never voluntarily realize they are not well enough to live on their own (not even close to that now), but they are very stubborn people (perhaps where my stubborness comes from). They are in Florida, which was a good idea whne they were 60, but as they age, the distance is more of an issue.
I, generally, am not a worrier, and this post is more to vent than anything. I am no different from anybody with older parents. Eventually, as the children, we have to become the grown-ups and deal with parents as they age, and eventually pass away. I assume (probably shouldn't) that it won't be for a long time, but as i learned all to well with my sister, people die and there is no way to know when or how it will happen.
I hope everybody has a great day!
Be Easy
-cp
It is what the title says, it is simply what I think. nothing more and nothing less.
Anya, too, has been asking about death and when will I die and when will she die. You're right, those are tough to answer. My mom and step-father have voluntarily decided to move into a retirement facility in February. They'll start in the independent living section, but of course the idea is that if/when their health declines, they will be able to stay in this one place and just move from section to section. On one hand, I'm happy my mom and step-dad made this decision so that I don't have to make it for them, but on the other hand, it's tough to see your parents get older, and know you're going to have to start dealing with things you really don't want to deal with.
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