<p>Several years ago I was visiting my mom in skilled nursing rehab. I struck up a conversation with a guy who was also there with his mother, and we commiserated about caregiving stress. At one point he sighed a really big sigh and said, “I wish I had a sister who could take care of all this stuff.” I could have punched him.</p>
<p>Just chiming in here about SIL who does not help her parents, visit when they are ill, or even call them - ever. She is so low that she has blocked their telephone #. She lives on the other coast, and in the 20+ years that I know them, they have done nothing to merit this treatment. It seems that as they got increasingly ill, alzheimers, and other ailments among them, that she decided she will not be bothered at all. Disgusting. And jym above, when the time comes, she will get lawyers too, I am sure. I worry that if MIL is the last one remaining that she will try to get her to sign all kinds of dangerous paperwork against MIL’s interest, since MIL is not able to handle anything in terms of finances anymore. I am often ask myself why, why why??</p>
<p>^^^^^^^ That says it all, doesn’t it Geezer!</p>
<p>Oh Mont, unfortunately I understand so many aspects all too well. Sometimes it is just the sheer exhaustion. I had some days in the last three months that it was just an effort to get out of bed and face the unending responsibilities. It wasn’t even that I pitied myself, I just didn’t know if I had the physical capacity to do everything that was required. </p>
<p>You know, I sometimes think this is similar to when we had infants who were colicky and we were unable to get any sleep. I would have confessed to any crime just to relax and get some sleep. The only difference is our folks aren’t quite as cute and we know they aren’t going to get any better. </p>
<p>Well now, didn’t I just make things all cheery :)</p>
<p>Hi, guys. Just catching up as I am in the airport hotel and finally getting to sit in front of a computer.</p>
<p>First off, I apologize for the whining and the pity party I subjected you all to. </p>
<p>After a tough month of mom’s trials and tribulations, I am happy to say that not only is mom settled in back at her assisted living, but she just became a great grandmother for the third time. The oldest nephew had his first son, so she now has her first great grandson!</p>
<p>Wow, just puts it all in perspective.</p>
<p>While being part of a family comes with frustration, anger, and grief, there is also joy.</p>
<p>Thank you again for all your support during this time.</p>