Re: Re: the hunt for mom... found her... and her broom/Elsie

[Guest guest]

Alisa,

Beautifully said - I think you made many excellent points about how we have all

grown up with different families and all our situations are different.

My mom was very hard on my growing up - especially when I tried to become my own

person and individuate from her. Life would be great if I were thin, always had

on designer clothes and always had my make-up on (maybe one reason The Swan rubs

all over me? Could be...) Now she is in the early stages of Alzheimer's and

lives with us. At age 82 (83 on New Year's), she is the mother I have always

wanted - supportive, nurturing, etc. The age? The Alzheimer's? Who knows?

For years, it was such a push-pull. I loved her to death, but could only be

around her in small doses. Yet, I wanted to be around here. Sick, huh? Plus,

we were eating buddies for years - talk about co-dependence. Now we live

together and I am thankful for this time because when she is gone, I will

cherish it always.

I applaud how far you've come with how your mom was/is. I know having a mom

that thought the world revolved around her and thought I wasn't good enough

wasn't easy.

Thanks for sharing all you have - you are a brave and strong and beautiful

woman!

Hugs,

[Guest guest]

Alisa,

<<Thank you.>>

You are more than welcome!

<<You're better than many--taking in a loved one with Alzheimer's is

hard work (I used to work for that org here in STL) and I applaud your

willingness and love to take on that task.>>

She's my mom and while we had many rocky roads, I wouldn't have it any other

way. She had wanted to live with my brother because he is still in Michigan

where we all grew up, but it didn't work out (thank goodness as he is a jerk -

another post, another day). It was hard for her to leave where she had lived

since the day she was born, but we are all adjusting. And, we are no longer

eating buddies <g>.

Hugs,