Mom was hard yesterday. Eldest daughter sent her flowers late in the afternoon and that cheered her considerably. Her melt down was caused by her inability to use her cell phone. She just cannot remember how to use it and she cannot see the numbers. It is one more nail in the coffin so to speak. She cannot read, or play the piano anymore. She cannot cook or sew. She cannot drive and has to use a wheel chair when out. Now she cannot remember the cell phone. I feel really bad. She is miserable and her personality is such that when she is down she will take us with her.This is very hard as I cannot allow that. I have to struggle to stay up as it is and she has to find it within herself to be happy. I will help but I cannot make her happy. It breaks my heart. She is refusing to go to Lil sis's and will not go with Sis in the evening, which is so weird as nothing was done to make her uncomfortable there. But this might just be another phase.
Yesterday other than the mom issue, Sis got the ironing done!. I was able to sew and finished many prom dresses. I was also able to get a couple of wedding dresses ready for fittings.
After dinner I took mom to Joanns and Albertsons. Then she went to bed and I watched a little TV. At 10 p.m. I realized I needed to make cookie dough for mom. I thought I would just throw a batch together and go to bed. Well I found the burger that I was going to make into spaghetti sauce and plus three onion 1/2's in the fridge. This lead to me making a triple batch of spaghetti sauce and cookie dough and cleaning the kitchen. So I was not out of the kitchen until after 11.
Today I will continue to work on dresses and I have a pile of pants to hem. I will make cookies with mom and also go and freeze most of the spaghetti sauce.
I still have to pick up some things for Easter. Just simple things for the great nephews baskets. I need to make a list so I don't forget what I need. If I don't do that I just end up with things that I want.
Do any of you do that? My weakness I guess.
Have a great and productive day staying positive while you are in the negative.
Kim
There is a cell phone with large numbers and simple use. Well, that is what they advertise. I think you can program the phone to push one number instead of dialing. If she still cannot see the numbers, use nail polish or something to code it for her, like red for one person's button and blue for another person's number.
ReplyDeleteI really hate it for her that her life is becoming so limited. Is there a program that would provide a companion for her once a week or so to entertain her or whatever she needs.
Is her refusal to go with the others because she cannot see enough and she wants to remain in a safe place?
Good luck with all this. Check out the phone.
I think the big phone is called the Jitterbug.
DeleteWe have that phone and she cannot use it. It is not so much seeing as it is remembering. But thanks for the info.
DeleteHave you been peeking around our interactions with Mom. I swear we have the same mother and same issues! The knot at the end of my rope keeps fraying!
ReplyDeleteOh Anne at least she does not live with you. It is so hard. I just want my mother back.
DeleteI am sorry you are having to go through all this with your mom. It sure isn't pleasant getting older. I am beginning to realize that.
ReplyDeleteI have gone through this type of thing with my MIL for a few years now. It is very frustrating.
Blessings
I just keep telling myself, I hope I am never this way when I am older.
DeleteI have an old IPhone 5 and you just have to hit one button and then talk to Siri and she will call whoever I say. I know a blind lady from work that uses her IPhone for everything by just talking to Siri. There is some awesome technology out there. Maybe someone you know has an old IPhone that you can have. They are not very expensive online. People always want the newer one as soon as it comes out so there are tons of used ones available.
ReplyDeleteP.S. The flowers are beautiful.
I will try this. Thank you so much.
DeleteMy father has trouble with his cell. He always says "well, these things take time to learn." He is now 90 and still cannot figure it out. Wierd, since he does know how to use a computer. Lol
ReplyDeleteSo sweet of your daughter to send the flowers. They are lovely.
Thank you. What a good attitude.
DeleteIt's hard to adjust to having limitations. Every week around here you see on the news about some elderly person dying in a car wreck due to still driving at a very advanced age(in their 90's). Nobody wants to give up their independence it seems.
ReplyDeleteYour daughter is very thoughtful, what I call a "keeper". 8-)
Yes she is, but so is yours.
DeleteIf I don't have a list I just wander aimlessly about so I HAVE to write a list. Or I end up with nothing - that would be a frugal win but a big loss in the dinner dept! Does your mom take medication for depression? This is a tough transition time for her (and everyone who is in her life!) and she may need a little help...counselling , augmentative communication device etc. There's lots out there and perhaps your family doctor could do an assessment or make a referral. There are tons of devices and tools out there that can help with physical and communication tasks. Of course she'd have to be willing to try them.
ReplyDeleteShe does take an anti depressant. She has always been very self centered with her family that is, and stubborn so this is just a manifestation of those traits.
DeleteI always need my list. :) Otherwise I end up with half of the things I needed and a basket of things I really don't.
ReplyDeleteBlessings~
I know like those chocolate covered cake donuts.:)
Delete