travel with kids
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 20, 2003
- Messages
- 520
I just need to share this with someone......
My Mom is the sole caregiver to my mentally and physically challenged Aunt. My mom took a very needed vacation to a church convention. However, before she left, my Aunt was admitted to the hospital. We (her kids and my Dad) encouraged her to still go, knowing my Aunt would be taken care of in the hospital. Needless to say, my Aunt was not happy!!!
As promised, I picked my aunt up at the hospital yesterday afternoon. She was upset...she cried, yelled at the nurses and me. To get the full picture here you need to understand that my Aunt is no more than 5' and weighs over 250!! She was very little movement in her legs..... I have a Honda Odyssey!! I got my work out in the parking lot of the hospital.... pushing, pulling, lifting. It was hot yesterday. I was sweating in places where no one should sweat. I have no idea how my Mom does it!! The whole time my Aunt is yelling. Now...during this process, my 7 year old daughter says.."Ah, Mom..your thing popped out!" Not sure what 'thing' she was referring to, I look myself over. Sure enough, my breast prosthesis had moved itself out of its protected pocket. Did I mention that two male nurses were helping?
Well, I finally got myself composed; my aunt in the front seat of my van when we realized the seat buckle would not go around her!! After much discussion on how bad my van was...I convinced her, I would drive very slow and be careful. She only lived 2 1/2 miles from the hospital. And slow it was. She would not let me get above 25mph!!! I had to keep pulling over to let cars go by.
We got her home, she had calmed a great deal.
Here comes the good part
An hour later, my daughter and I where on our way home. As we drove by the ice cream shop, I pulled in. "We deserve!" I told my daughter. We stood in line debating what flavor of Ben & Jerry's I was going to get. I knew I shouldn't have the ice cream, but I kept thinking I REALLY deserved it. We get to the window and my daughter orders a soft serve twist..... oohh, that sounded good!! The girl behind the counter asked what I would like..and before I could stop myself, I said 'ice coffee with cream, please.'!!
I am so proud of myself!!..I know this is long, but I also needed to vent before my mom gets home---I don't want her to feel guilty...thanks for listening......twk
My Mom is the sole caregiver to my mentally and physically challenged Aunt. My mom took a very needed vacation to a church convention. However, before she left, my Aunt was admitted to the hospital. We (her kids and my Dad) encouraged her to still go, knowing my Aunt would be taken care of in the hospital. Needless to say, my Aunt was not happy!!!
As promised, I picked my aunt up at the hospital yesterday afternoon. She was upset...she cried, yelled at the nurses and me. To get the full picture here you need to understand that my Aunt is no more than 5' and weighs over 250!! She was very little movement in her legs..... I have a Honda Odyssey!! I got my work out in the parking lot of the hospital.... pushing, pulling, lifting. It was hot yesterday. I was sweating in places where no one should sweat. I have no idea how my Mom does it!! The whole time my Aunt is yelling. Now...during this process, my 7 year old daughter says.."Ah, Mom..your thing popped out!" Not sure what 'thing' she was referring to, I look myself over. Sure enough, my breast prosthesis had moved itself out of its protected pocket. Did I mention that two male nurses were helping?
Well, I finally got myself composed; my aunt in the front seat of my van when we realized the seat buckle would not go around her!! After much discussion on how bad my van was...I convinced her, I would drive very slow and be careful. She only lived 2 1/2 miles from the hospital. And slow it was. She would not let me get above 25mph!!! I had to keep pulling over to let cars go by.
We got her home, she had calmed a great deal.
Here comes the good part
An hour later, my daughter and I where on our way home. As we drove by the ice cream shop, I pulled in. "We deserve!" I told my daughter. We stood in line debating what flavor of Ben & Jerry's I was going to get. I knew I shouldn't have the ice cream, but I kept thinking I REALLY deserved it. We get to the window and my daughter orders a soft serve twist..... oohh, that sounded good!! The girl behind the counter asked what I would like..and before I could stop myself, I said 'ice coffee with cream, please.'!!
I am so proud of myself!!..I know this is long, but I also needed to vent before my mom gets home---I don't want her to feel guilty...thanks for listening......twk
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