Pam:
What a mess – I don’t think you are being a brat I think saint is more in order. You have stated that the relationship with your parents was not good. I’m sorry, why do they deserve you sacrificing your families happiness and well being to take care of them? I truly believe you reap what you sow. I don’t think it is selfish to think about your family first. Sometimes it is really hard to do, but you cannot do it all and need to know and enforce your limits. You are in a very tough position. I think your family needs to come first not your Mother (I know, easier said than done). Your parents are both being selfish and way too demanding.
What has worked well for me in the past is DH takes on the role of the bad guy. He “puts his foot down” when I need him too. This really deflects the heat off of me and since he is not “related” he doesn’t really care if he ticks them off nor does he have any guilt to live with. Try it, it works really well!
Something I had to learn to do with my Mother was to stand up for myself and defend my family so that she didn’t take over and wreak havoc. You need to take a stand with both parents. Sorry about your sister. It seems in every family there is the one that takes on all the responsibility while the rest of the family members pretend it does not involve them or they just don’t care or are too selfish to put in a little effort.
Throw out all baby powder now. What is she going to do, run out to the store?
Assisted Living would be the way to go in my book – I would start looking right now or you may never get rid of Mom. The one really big question is can Mom afford it and is she mobile enough to qualify? The intake social workers generally are pretty knowledgeable about what is out there and available, use them. The next question is: How do you get her there? If you have a Senior Center near by, call them they can also be a huge source of information.
If Dad doesn’t want her back why did he come?
I’m so sorry you are going thru this – you have been on my mind a lot, keep venting here, it really does help.
Sandy:
Ice Cream cake, yummmmm I might have to borrow that idea. Very Big Dog who does not like water needs a bath…………Where is the video camera, this should be good!
Horseshowmom:
Oh, I hope
Scooter is okay.

One of my cats eyes did something funky once and turned out he had scratched it somehow and it diid heal and return to normal over time. I hope whatever it is is little and easily fixed. Glad you are back home safe and sound and that you enjoyed your time in Biloxi.
My Brother and his wife decided last night to drive over tomorrow from San Jose, CA for a quick visit. I was having my carpets cleaned tomorrow and was able to reschedule to this afternoon. My Brother never lands for very long. Can we say a 41 yr. old man with ADHD!
They will show up late in the afternoon, have dinner, sleep, maybe stay for breakfast and then head out again. I am glad he is coming, we have been at each other over the whole Mother issue and we need some chat time.
As long as he stays sober, it’ll be okay – he tends to drink way too much and then he gets all these stupid ideas in his head as to what to do about Mothers care.
Example: On his last rampage he was convinced we had put her in “jail” and that she was going to die within the week.

He wanted to move her out of the home and find a little cottage somewhere where she could live with all her stuff (she is a severe hoarder) and live happily ever after.(yeah right) He forgets the part about how she doesn’t know how to fix herself something to eat or to shower or not to physically attack people etc……I won’t even tell him that she no longer knows who he is………he would lose it!
Well, ladies - everyone hang in there for the weekend - I just got a call from a friend - we have a basketball tournament snack bar emergency at the High School. Our coordinator and her entire family have a stomach bug

hope they didn't get it from me.
Actually, one of our local elementary schools (not where my kids go, but the one that is right across the street from the High School) has been stricken with what the Health Dept. thinks is the NoroVirus.

35% of the school population went home sick on Wednesday and another 25% went home yesterday - the Health Dept. closed the school until Monday so they can bleach the heck out of if. We are really hoping that our Coordinator does not have that - the entire area where I live is sick! This sucks!
So, I gotta go cover the snack bar this afternoon and tomorrow morning, great way to spend the weekend! Send some healthy vibes this way, the North Valleys could really use it!
You all take care and have a great weekend.................