After a most enjoyable meal with friends I met 16 years ago at a ‘Management Training Course’ I visited my mother.
My sister and her husband had just spent a couple of weeks in the UK (they live in Australia), and had regularly visited her. I joined them on most of these visits so my mother saw her two daughters together. She recognised both of us but has long forgotten our relationship, just that we are ‘one of us’ as she has told me when questioned in the past.
So I was very surprised when I walked into the care home and my mother rushed over to me, grabbed my hand and told me that she thought I’d gone away and she would never see me again! I have been back to the care home since my sister left so didn’t immediately understand her concern. It was only later, driving home, that I thought about a connection between my sister’s visit and subsequent departure and my mother’s fear of abandonment. Once more, there is no way that this makes any sense, but dementia makes no sense! I can only surmise that her two daughters must have merged into one, and that the one had left.
After a relaxing, wet weekend (yes, I’m still loving this rain!) it’s Monday morning. I used to hate Mondays! Not anymore! Monday is the start of a new week and new choices on how to spend my time. The sun is back and the garden looks beautiful. That’s where I’ll be today. 👠
Jenny Burrell 