sandwich generation

[gosling]

Today I had a rather stressful lunch with Chip, Benjamin and my parents. It was stressful in that I was constantly supervising in some capacity. Mostly it was my father who needed (as tactful as possible) supervision. His ability to function mentally had clearly disintegrated quite a bit since I saw him at Christmas. It's like the deterioration is just suddenly accelerating. He was always vague at times, but that was the absent minded scientist thing; this is completely different. He is just really confused and lost all the time.

Benjamin was actually wonderful. Until the end.

I'm not sure I'm going back to Diva in a hurry.

Comments

[noire.livejournal.com]

*hug* I'm sorry to hear this.

At least it was Diva. *smile*

[gosling.livejournal.com]

Diva is fabulous, and I am sure I will go back after I get over my embarrassment at the behavior of some of my family. (Preferably I will go back with only fully competent adults.) Meanwhile, fortunately Namaskar is also quite wonderful and equally conveniently located.

[wolfkitn.livejournal.com]

oh... that's so difficult... i'm sorry. *hug*

(your ability to handle all of that gracefully was probably very taxed, but I am guessing that you more than did so -- which is wonderful, but still, so hard!)

[gosling.livejournal.com]

Thank you. :-) I am feeling a bit short on grace at the moment, but I guess it is true I certainly could have done worse.

[bikergeek.livejournal.com]

Yikes. So sorry to hear. *hugs*

[gosling.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

That sounds really unfun.

*hugs you warmly*

[gosling.livejournal.com]

I've had better afternoons. *hugs you back*

[drwex]

I'm sorry babe. Dealing with this is difficult at best.

[gosling.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I'm guessing it never really gets better precisely, so much as it becomes less unexpected and hence more tolerable. Now I know more what to expect. I think the person it must be hardest for is my dad, who I think is still just barely lucid enough that he must know his once extremely keen mind on which he greatly relied is essentially melting into nothingness. (It's my worst nightmare really.) It's pretty hard on my mom too, who has to live with this, and all the responsibility and endless tact and patience it requires.

[drwex]

Yes to all of these. I'm dealing with this with my mom right now.

[gosling.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry you are dealing with this too. It really does suck lots.

[hammercock.livejournal.com]

Ouch. :(

[gosling.livejournal.com]

Yeah. *sigh* (Although really it's far worse, in very different ways, for both my parents than for anyone else.)