I’ve been having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that my parents are aging. When you’re little, you pretty much figure mom and dad will always be there. Perhaps my ponderings have increased and the denial ratched up a notch due to my dad’s cancer diagnosis. I suppose one could say I haven’t come to grips with my own aging. The passage of time is much different once you become “real” adult and even more so once you have your own children.

I know last year was difficult for my dad – seeing his mother pass away. After her stroke over 15 years ago, her life really changed. It was about then I started to think a little more about my own parents aging, though a nursing home seemed so far away yet. Her stroke was a shock to the family. The woman walked everyday and had recently gone to the doctor only to be declared healthy. She was living alone though, since my grandfather passed away when I was just 5 years old. I think almost everyone in the family as well as her neighborhood friends felt a bit guilty. You see, my grandmother tried to get to the phone to call for help when she had her stroke. If only she had a personal Medical Alert, she may have gotten help in time. Instead, she was laying on her floor for well over 8 hours, the stroke causing permanent damage and paralysis on the entire left side of her body.

Though both my mom and dad live together, I can’t help but wonder if we should get them a PERS (medical emergency reporting system) because they both have medical issues. They are no longer spring chickens and I really worry about them falling down the back stairs. If they were in a one level ranch, I wouldn’t worry quite as much, I don’t think. But, they are in a two story house with a basement. At least I can rest a bit easier now that I know someone is there every weekend to check in and help run errands and whatnot.

Still… it just doesn’t feel like my parents should be in the senior citizens category. I’m not ready for that.

And of course I’ll say that phrase over and over again throughout my daughter’s life: I’m not ready for that!

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Disclosure: I was compensated for my time in sharing this personal post.

About Darcy

Darcy Zalewski is a married, stay-at-home mom who is discovering her greener side, starting with advocating for cloth diapering. When she's not changing diapers or singing the Itsy Bitsy Spider, she can be found at Tales From the Nursery, where she shares tales of motherhood as well as product reviews, or at ShePromotes, a resource for blogger support.

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