Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Mom

Yesterday was the 27th of the month, also known as Give Flowers to a Stranger Day. Full disclosure here, I totally forgot. However, it just so happened that I was shopping for flowers on that very day. For my mom no less. Which starts with M. And it's M week of course here on the ABC's of Kindness. Coincidence? Fate? I'm not sure, so I'll just go with dumb luck.

A tough day for my family today; we are moving my mom to a nursing home where my father recently needed to go. It was a difficult decision for all, one everyone hopes and prays that they never have to make. I bought the flowers so they will be in her room when she and I arrive. My hope is to provide some welcoming brightness and beauty. I also spent the weekend printing and framing pictures to cover her walls.

I realize however, that these efforts are as much for me as they are for her. In all likelihood the pictures will not bring her peace and she will not notice the lovely pink roses as she tries to comprehend her new reality. They serve primarily to help me feel like I have done all that I am capable of to make sure that she is safe and well as she can be.

As I prick my finger making an arrangement in the vase, I wonder about the wisdom of making such a thorny choice. And I wish I were just thinking about the flowers.

2 comments:

  1. So very sorry to hear about your parents and the position that you are in right now. I have an elderly mother myself, and I will most likely be making these decisions myself sometime in the near future.

    Yes, sometimes we need to do things that are, in reality, kind to only ourselves. Nothing wrong with that at all.

    Thanks for sharing this most personal experience.

    take care and God Bless.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you Frank. Your kind words are very much appreciated. It was a loooooong day.

    ReplyDelete

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