<p>I get the Coumadin info whenever the wrong veggies are served-I listen intently every time.</p>
<p>Getting a phone for my mom has been challenging. When they diagnosed her dementia they also did an OT evaluation which was very helpful for us because it explained why she can’t do certain things-like managing the phone.</p>
<p>We got her a cell phone and made it as simple as possible. It was working OK-not perfect-but if I had been given time with the instructions and with her it could have worked I think. Well-meaning siblings had to get involved and my older sister instructed my father (91 years old but still pretty with it) to take the phone away to be returned and we would try a land-line instead. They live in the same facility but a different building so they take him up there whenever he likes.</p>
<p>Well he neglected to mention to my poor mother that he took the phone and she had the entire staff where she lives (locked memory impairment unit) looking for the phone. It’s really not a good idea to do that to someone who has memory issues. At first I was angry with Dad but then I realized he’s in denial about her and this is how he operates and thought nothing of it.</p>
<p>Is it terrible I actually managed to have a laugh about this-I mean if you don’t laugh it’ll make you cry-but the visual I have of the episode does make me chuckle. Mom is no worse for the wear-she’s actually doing OK-but I don’t think it would be a good idea for Dad to pull this again, huh. :)</p>
<p>Similar issue here with my Father who has short term memory issues. We gave him one of our old TV’s because it was bigger, but after two months he was still having problems trying to figure out how to work the clicker. He still had the old tv so we were going to just put the old one back. Instead my brother’s decided he needed a brand new tv. They asked me if I wanted to go in on it with them and I told them it was not a good idea. They did it anyway. Not 30 minutes after they left his house last Sat., he was on the phone to us asking how to turn it on. And we have gotten at least one phone call a day since. He has also asked the neighbors for help. The neighbors gave him written instructions, but they only work if he hasn’t already pushed every button on the tv and cable box.</p>
<p>Momofsongbird - You are soooo right! My mom refuses to see a dr. about her cough/cold/breathing issues of the past 3 wks because the last time, it landed her in the hospital for a wk (she’s no dummy!) I keep wondering if I could get some antibiotics slipped into her chicken soup.<br>
Pepper - May you never have girl issues like we have had here - there should be a mandatory dating ethics class taught in 9th grade. His gf who went off with her ex-bf for Christmas break? Well, funny, they didn’t plan this, didn’t expect this but they (his gf and her ex) are back together. SHOCK! Prom bids go on sale this week (tell me this isn’t ridiculous?) Great timing but I am glad he is free of her toxic “hotness.”</p>
<p>So when I started reading this thread, I thought it was great to find a group of parents who were dealing with similar situations with their HS seniors. Didn’t realize that we would all have such similar issues with parents, too. We truly are the sandwich generation! </p>
<p>I try to act as if I’m listening and hearing my mom’s medical stories and family updates for the first time but sometimes I can’t help it and interject a “right, I think you told me that”. She doesn’t even take a breath, just keeps telling the story as if I never uttered a word. As for technology challenges, my parents have the TV licked but the computer? Not so much. My favorite is when my mom calls me from (and mind you, I am 1300 miles away) and needs me help her figure out where that file is that she saved the other day.</p>
<p>Boy, I hear you on this one. Actually, with my mom, simplicity is good, but FAMILIARITY trumps simplicity.</p>
<p>The more we can keep gadgets, electronics, routines the same, the easier it is for her.</p>
<p>I’ve also told my d it helps Grandma a lot if you “position” what you’re going to talk about, rather than just launching into it.</p>
<p>“Grandma, remember I was telling you about that friend of mine who couldn’t decide which song to audition with, and she had to pick one by today? Well, here’s what happened…”</p>
<p>If you do that kind of setup, it helps her so much.</p>
<p>Again, thank you for the prayers and good thoughts for my parents. We’re taking it one day at a time. I’ll confess that I feel pressured constantly – my kiddos need me, my parents need me. Wouldn’t a vacation on a tropical island feel good?</p>
<p>Pepper and mamom: I can relate! My mom gets confused between the handheld phone and the TV remote. Last night as I settled her in at the Rehab facility, I connected a new TV that I had bought for her room. There was a separate cable remote, the new TV remote, and the phone. Today she was complaining that there was no volume on the TV and I had to laugh because I’m sure she had no clue which button on which device she should push. I’m just hoping that someone stopped by and pushed the right button for her. Sometimes you have to laugh…otherwise you’d cry.</p>
<p>AmandaK: So sorry for your sweet son’s heartbreak. S2 has his first gf and I worry that she will dump him. Okay, I have to ask…what are prom bids? It’s not something I’ve heard of here.</p>
<p>Amanda - my mom is the opposite. Sometimes I think trips to the doctor are the high point of her week. Doesn’t seem to matter if it’s for her or for my dad. First she has to tell all 4 of her kids what the issue is and that they’re seeing Dr XXXX tomorrow. Then we all get the update call, telling us what the doctor said. </p>
<p>On the other hand, both my parents are still with us, in fairly good physical and mental health and I’m supremely grateful for. I just have to remind myself of that sometimes when I’m trying to get out the door and am listening to the same story for the 3rd or 4th time.</p>
<p>Prom bids are tickets - for ours there is the ticket for the transport to the event and then another ticket for the event. They are going on a dinner cruise thing so it’s nice that they don’t have to drive there and back, they can just take the bus from the HS. But, when this isn’t happening until June - why the heck do we have to make every senior run and find a date now? What is the likelihood that those couples will actually be speaking to each other in 5 months??</p>
<p>proudmom - she hates the pulmonologist (who we met in the hospital and I had a bit of a verbal altercation with - ahem) so eventhough this might just be a bad case of bronchitis or something, that she just needs some antibiotic, she just won’t go.</p>
<p>amandak: Oh, now I get it. Wow that is early! Here, our kids have a winter formal in February – an event where the girls ask the guys-- so that seems to take some of the focus off of the prom for a while. At my kids’ high school, prom tickets don’t go on sale until 3 weeks before the prom. </p>
<p>proudmomof2: That sounds like my inlaws! They structure their whole day around the doctors appointment…like it’s a social event.</p>
<p>amanda - well then, I don’t blame her for not wanting to go but it obviously makes it difficult for her to get the treatment she needs. I do think that some doctors are blessed with that special gene that helps them to be patient with everyone else’s parents. Unfortunately, some doctors are missing that gene!</p>
<p>Ohiomom - exactly! It is like a social event for them. I hadn’t thought of it in those terms but that sums it up nicely.</p>
<p>Amandak: It’s crazy to sell the tickets so early. Our school sells them 2 weeks before the prom, and some kids still don’t have their act together. At our HS, each student has to buy his or her own ticket unless they bring an underclassman or someone from another school. Most kids still go with dates, but this does make things more comfortable for kids who go in a group.</p>
<p>I’m sorry that your son is having to deal with heartbreak. It can be rough on the girls, too. My daughter has had a lot of BF drama this year.</p>
<p>Ohiomom–sounds like a lot of difficult trips. Make sure you are getting enough rest! But what a nice event to come home to–your S’s EA acceptance packet and a scholarship too. Great news.</p>
<p>MOSB–love every bit of good news. Keep posting! And that goes for everyone here. One of the nicest aspects of this thread is the unconditional support and sharing of the ups and the downs.</p>
<p>MilitaryMom–hope you are having a speedy recovery.</p>
<p>I’m surprised S2 is still getting many unsolicited emails from colleges encouraging him to file applications. A few have mentioned they have MOVED their deadline back so he can apply. What’s that about, anyone know? Your kids report getting these? From universities obscure to well known. I’m stumped. And, no, we cannot face another application. Ever!</p>
<p>LeftofPisa–congrats on the acceptance and the merit!!</p>
<p>Thanks for letting me share all the news about S1 (after all–he’s the older bro of my Class of 2015 guy) in Florence. Latest challenge: he hasn’t yet got internet (the study abroad program has them stay at a nice hotel the first week so I don’t know what’s up with no internet!, then they move to their houses (S1 chose to live with an Italian family rather than an apartment). Next week classes begin and there is free wi-fi on the campus. However, I have been receiving his college address email which he only uses for official stuff. On Monday, he got an email from a recruiter who admires his work (!!!) and will he come in and pitch some ideas? Thing is–he’s in Italy! S1 is on a pre-professional track, so doing a study abroad semester is not that common in his major. And here, so soon, is his first conflict! Oy.</p>
<p>I got a laugh out of the parent - TV - computer - remote stories. I’ll add mine which hopefully you’ll find amusing in a sick way.</p>
<p>My mom hates the computer. My dad is on it 24/7 mainly fixing what he screwed up. My mom swears that she is going to bury him with it. Every time she says that, I picture this huge casket with a monitor or some cables peeking out the side!</p>
<p>Thanks, Madbean. We, too, are still getting a lot of unsolicited email, also saying they’ve extended the deadline.</p>
<p>UChicago has been merciless in spamming d, and it’s not a school she’s remotely considered. The last email said, "Since you previously indicated your intent to apply, we want to assure you that we’re extending the deadline for you, yada yada.<br>
Thing is, she NEVER indicated any intent to apply…this is SO not the type of school she’s looking for, and we can’t figure out why they’re so persistent. In addition to countless emails and snail mails, they called last week. Who knows why kids get on certain lists and have a hard time getting off?</p>
<p>madbean: yes, unsolicited e-mail and mail is still arriving here. University of Chicago, Ohio State, Nebraska, Case Western Reserve and a bunch of local private schools. And phone calls from the school that his older brother attended for one year–even though he has told two previous callers that he is not interested.</p>
<p>I think National Merit status is driving this machine.</p>
<p>But none of those places have a nuclear reactor…</p>
<p>The State University of New York (University) residence halls are operated under the Income Fund Reimbursable (IFR) system that requires that all operating costs, fringe benefits and debt service costs of the residence halls be funded from income generated through the Residence Hall Income Fund Reimbursable. Each individual campus under this system is responsible for paying the operating expenses of the residence halls at its campus. Each campus also determines its room rates, within University-wide guidelines.</p>
<p>Ohiomom Yes! a vacation on a tropical island would very much feel good!!</p>
<p>Kudos to all of you for the love and patience dealing with the challenging aging parent issues. My Dad passed away years ago. Mom is aging a lot these past few months but doing very well overall, I think she stays ‘perky’ from calling her cable company almost every day and complaining (not that I blame her!) </p>
<p>And to all of us for getting (or attempting to at least) thru this college app/essay/senior project/scholarship/AP homework/teenage ups and downs…</p>
<p>what does everyone do to help themselves get thru the “roller coasters of life”–to try to keep healthy physically, emotionally etc when you are feeling depressed or overwhelmed by something going on in your life?</p>