Contemplating An Aging Parent...

 Once upon a time I was a young adult visiting my mother.  Her favorite pastime was going to garage sales/lawn sales.  I wasn't even interested in thrift shops at that age!!!  (My, how things change...)

I remember the day I was riding in the front seat as she drove quite fervently from one sign to the next, punching the accelerator, hitting the brakes.  (Can you say "whip lash???")  

On one part of our adventure I happened to read this bumper sticker on the car ahead of us:  "LIVE LONG ENOUGH TO BE A PROBLEM TO YOUR CHILDREN."  I thought it was funny.  (Now, I don't...- in hindsight I think it should have read, "LIVE LONG ENOUGH FOR YOUR KIDS TO WORRY ABOUT YOU!!!"  Same difference???)

Through the years, she took care of us six kids (two sets of twins!!!) very sacrificially, only wanting what was best for each one of us, cheering us on.  I honestly don't know how she did it.  (Of course, being the eldest, I helped some...  And we all had assigned "chores" to do...)

Years later she told me about how some female shopper in a store had criticized my mother for using harnesses to keep track of my 2 - or 3-year-old brothers.  That was before the days of prevalent kidnappings, but hey- how was she supposed to chase both of them if they ran in opposite directions???

After following a recent medical emergency long-distance, I'm perhaps at the point of not only considering her mortality, but my own as well.

Don't get me wrong, I don't at all begrudge the visits, the bed-side vigil during various emergencies, the times I bite my tongue when she repeats repeats herself over the phone.  Or asks a question that seems irrelevant to me.  Or contradicts herself.  It is counterproductive to confront her about these occurrances.

I hope I have the wisdom to be patient with her, to not expect, or demand, perfection.  But most of all, I hope I'm mature enough to appreciate her while we still have her.  She was a blessing to our family all through the growing-up years, and she still is.

I am very fortunate to have a wonderful mother such as she is, and I am sincerely grateful for this gift.