Mommy & Me

I am a 41 year old married woman who is now living in a multi-generational household. My husband is 51 and my Mother is 73. She lives with me because in 2005 she had a stroke that rendered her paralyzed on her left side. She has full use of her brain and voice. So, we get along just swimmingly. My husband was really great in being supportive of me doing whatever was needed to take care of my Mommy.

My family is from Washington, DC and I live in Florida. So, there was a lot of commuting right after her stroke. My older brother (who was a nurse) and his wife (who is a nurse) moved back home to take care of Mommy for the first year after her stroke. I came home once a month to see how things were going because I was the one in charge of the finances and consultant on medical decisions. After a year and a half, my brother and his wife decided to go back to their lives. They told me that they could take Mommy with them. But, I thought it would be better if she was with me for a while. Medically and physically, it has been very good for her here in Florida. And we spend a lot of time each day laughing. She is a lot more engaged and she's a lot more mobile. We go out 2 or 3 time each week.

I work Mon - Fri and sometimes on weekends. So, taking trips out with Mommy is fun but takes some effort. My husband has retired from his first career and tries to live the life of leisure but at 51, he still works. He is a Chef. (yes, big ego and all) He does a fantastic job of cooking whatever Mommy wants for each and every meal. She calls him her "Genie" basically, because one day she saw him wrapped in a towel after a shower with his bald head gleaming in the lights of her bedroom doorway. But I think it's more because her wish is his command when it comes to mealtime. Whatever she asks for, he will make for her. It's a beautiful thing to watch.

As I continue to blog, I will have many questions for those of you who are in my situation. I have made quite a number of changes to my everyday life. None of which I regret. I love my Mom and my husband and I am very happy and settled with the decisions I have made in my life. But there are some very trying times too. And that's where I'm looking for input. More to come.