(shamelessly lifted from Facebook!)
Letter
from a Mother to a Daughter:
"My dear girl, the day you see I’m
getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to
understand what I’m going through. If when we talk, I repeat the same
thing a thousand times, don’t interrupt to say: “You said the same thing
a minute ago”... Just listen, please. Try to remember the times when
you were little and I would read the same story
night after night until you would fall asleep. When I don’t want to
take a bath, don’t be mad and don’t embarrass me. Remember when I had to
run after you making excuses and trying to get you to take a shower
when you were just a girl? When you see how ignorant I am when it comes
to new technology, give me the time to learn and don’t look at me that
way... remember, honey, I patiently taught you how to do many things
like eating appropriately, getting dressed, combing your hair and
dealing with life’s issues every day... the day you see I’m getting old,
I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to understand what
I’m going through. If I occasionaly lose track of what we’re talking
about, give me the time to remember, and if I can’t, don’t be nervous,
impatient or arrogant. Just know in your heart that the most important
thing for me is to be with you. And when my old, tired legs don’t let me
move as quickly as before, give me your hand the same way that I
offered mine to you when you first walked. When those days come, don’t
feel sad... just be with me, and understand me while I get to the end of
my life with love. I’ll cherish and thank you for the gift of time and
joy we shared. With a big smile and the huge love I’ve always had for
you, I just want to say, I love you... my darling daughter. "
*sob*
ReplyDeleteMy Mum will turn 101 this June 5th.
It has just been in the past three weeks that we have been forced, out of necessity and for her well being, to admit her to a nursing home.
It is the hardest thing I have ever had to see.
Thank you for sharing this........
*hugs*
Mimi
The Goat Borrower
I am so sorry, Mimi. We all dread that point in our lives where we become the caregiver (worse yet ~ no longer able to be the caregiver) to our parents. And yet, it is such a natural part of the cycle of life! I think it is something that the 'modern' world is missing out on. Families are so spread out now, I believe it's the exception, not the rule, when an elderly parent moves in with a grown child. Few children grow up witnessing the slow decline of a grandparent ~ Grandma's probably in an assisted living situation!
DeleteIt's funny, as I age, I find myself thinking about things like this much differently than I did in my youth. I'm not as afraid of aging or even death as I was as a young woman and mother. Perhaps it's the sense of having lived a full life and not feeling like I would miss out on something. Perhaps it is because of my 'near death' experience of last year. Perhaps it's just because I have such incredibly loving, giving children that I don't fear the unknown. I know that I am truly loved and after that, nothing else seems all that important!
LOL I saw this post too and was thinking, I'm not that old but the technology aspect still pertains to me!
ReplyDeleteMy mom died 11 years ago. But I think of her very often. When I read this I was filled with many, many memories of her. Cherish every day you have together! <3
ReplyDeleteTruely touching. Life cycle is unforseeable if we're dyeing of illness or all of a sudden. With ageing and illness is the worst. With loved ones around is blessing. Let's cherish the moment with our loved ones while they know who we are and enjoy being with us.
ReplyDelete