To be so fucking angry and feeling guilty and shit at the same time.

[TboneAndClifford]

Sorry for any vagueness in this thread - I don't want to out myself. I have nc'd.

My dad lives with us and is suffering from an illness that is gradually physically debilitating. He is mentally sound but I think he's losing the plot due to his age and perhaps due to his illness.

Today I came back with dc after doing the grocery shopping and dad was home as usual and helped pack away food. He then decided he wanted to empty the recycling box. I always have to remind him to leave the bins as its DH's job but he likes to keep busy. Long story short, he came back from doing the bins and I was busy making him food in the kitchen.

I realised I couldn't hear my DS (11 months) in the living room. So called dc1 and asked if he was with her upstairs. She was in the loo and called back no. I went upstairs and he wasn't there. Came back down frantically and he wasn't anywhere downstairs. I could hear a muffled cry but he wasn't anywhere. Suddenly I realised the sound was coming from the front garden. I unlocked the door and my poor baby was sitting outside on the ice in the dark crying. He'd been there a good 5-10 mins.

He obviously followed dad out but how the fuck he didn't realise and fucking LOCKED the door behind him is beyond me. I screamed oh my god and picked him up and just shouted at dad. His whole body was cold and his lips were blue. And I just ran up to my bedroom and warmed him up. I wanted to cry. He could have crawled onto the road and got hurt. We might have left him for longer and he could have frozen. I just have all these horrible thoughts in my head.

I feel guilty for shouting at dad, but this is my baby's life he's put in danger. I just feel so angry at him and guilty at the same time. He's ill and I'm such a horrible bitch. :(

[nilbyname]

Oh my love, how frightening. I think you have to take it easy on yourself, you got a huge scare, it could have been worse, but thankfully it was not.

How is your dad now? Does he have a social worker? Is it time to review his care package?

[NirvanaSmellsLikeTeenMother]

Oh my god, you poor thing. No real advice but have a [hug] from me, that must have been bloody awful!

I bet your dad understands why you were so angry and won't hold it against you at all, can you try and speak to him about it?

Sorry, im not much good but couldn't read this and not reply!

Glad your DS is okay

[ssd]

wow

I think you need to be considering a care home for your dad, I say that as someone who gets what you're talking about xx

[Gillyweed001]

It must have been awful for you, glad he is OK.

[amothersplaceisinthewrong]

Sounds like with a small baby and a sick Dad you have rather too much on your plate. Is it time for to consider alternative care arrangements for your Dad.

[pictish]

Awww that must have been horrible for you. You have my total sympathies. You say you could have cried. Well, I would've.

Here's what I think.
You are feeling the pressure of being responsible for your dad. It's hard work, and you feel exasperated.
Anyone could've done what he did. 11 months is small, and when you're distracted by the task at hand, slip ups can occur. I'm sure your poor wee son didn't suffer because your dad was stupid, or didn't care. Your dad didn't do it on purpose. I'm sure he feels awful.

I would have been utterly horrified justg as you were, so I do understand, but I think you should go and make it up with him. Bless you all. x

[unclefluffy]

You're not a bitch. You're protecting your precious baby.

Now get positive. Think about the things you need to keep everyone safe. More baby gates? Time for your dad e.g. at a day centre, so you can relax and so he can be busy without getting mixed up with your routines all the time? What about a plan for the future, for when he becomes too ill for you to look after (given that you have to look after your kids too).

Start thinking about the other things that could go wrong too. Do you have smoke alarms, to protect you in case the stove is left on and something catches fire? Can you fit your dad into some of your routines, so that he can follow step A, step B, step C etc? Might minimise the chance of mistakes being made.

[CabbageLeaves]

Oh please don't be so hard on yourself. :( So many conflicting issues for you. Two people you love and both need you and cannot help you or each other

[Kbear]

I get what you're talking about too

I'm sitting here crying at this moment about my in laws whose dementia is pushing me and my DH to the brink of insanity

A door alarm is a good idea. Social services might be able to help but in our case they don't seem to be able to.

[StormyWeek]

Your reaction is totally normal! Can you go on like this? Your children's safety has to come first. Do you think you can be more vigilant now that you know what can happen? Or do you expect your poor Dad's behaviour to deteriorate? Poor you- you need to get more info about his prognosis.
Please don't feel bad about your reaction- I'd have gone mad!

[CombineBananaFister]

YOU ARE NOT A HORRIBLE BITCH !! You are just faced with the impossible task of trying to raise/protect your family in a normal environment with somebody who is mentally declining. You cannot predict their behaviour or moods and it is heartbreaking and I sympathise as someone dealing with someone with dementia but I don't live with them so god knows how you cope. You are doing a fantasic job and iIF for two mins you weren't there you cannot beat yourself up about it-no-one can be a 24hr nurse full-time but it is maybe the time to look at alternative arrangements however hard that may be. You still love your dad, you are a parent to an 11 mth old - you are doing your best and allowed to feel angry

[TboneAndClifford]

We saw his specialist today and it was decided everything was fine. His illness hasn't got to the point we need extra help.

I know he understands why I was angry, he kept saying he didn't realise.

We already have stair gates fitted for the stairs but might think about another for the room.

Pictish, you are spot on. Thank you. I know he didn't do it on purpose I just feel so scared something bad could have happened.

[ssd]

kbear, I had wondered how you were all getting on

[pictish]

Of course you do. I would too.

[HassledHasASledge]

You're far from a bitch - you sound like a bloody good daughter.

But it's done, it's over - don't beat yourself up with "what ifs". None of those "what ifs" happened, your baby is fine. You've had a hell of a shock - take your time to get over it.

And then yes - think practically. There will be a way to sort the door thing (just a gate for the living room?), your awareness of what's going on will be in overdrive now so it won't happen again, and you maybe need to talk to Age Concern about your concerns re your Dad and to find out what extra support you can get.

[TboneAndClifford]

Uncle fluffy, yes we have smoke alarms. I think the gate for the main living room is definitely needed. I'm going to buy one as soon as possible.

Dads illness will worsen. His physical ability fluctuates. I suspect he may be going deaf too. I'll have to book that appointment too. How he didn't hear DS is beyond me.

[IneedAsockamnesty]

How dreadful but yanbu I would rant as well then cry.

Do age concern still advise on products that can make homes a bit safer for older people? Perhaps they could surgest things on top of the stair gate

[Kbear]

ssd - can only be described as a disaster waiting to happen. I've not been on here much, too exhausted to keep hashing over another day's utter madness. Thank god DH is my rock and I am his, but it is pushing a happy marriage to the brink also. Social services keep insisting they don't need a care home - but they don't experience what we do. The calls in the night, the disappearances, the fighting (yes they've been happily married for over 60 years, now they're fighting), "the government are tampering with the clocks because there is a 12 o'clock in the day AND in the night" (and they can't tell which is which so keep going round the village at 4am for tea bags)....the neighbours keep saying "they should be in a home" - yeah well you can't PUT someone in a home that doesn't want to go if social services won't intervene.

sorry to blub on your thread, Tbone.

Glad your baby is safe - what a worry for you.

[lola88]

oh poor you and poor DS :( that must have been awful.

You are not a horrible person DN almost jumped on DS's head when he was weeks old because she didn't look where she was jumping and i screamed at her i felt terrible after it as i've hardly ever raised my voice to her never mind screamed at her but i think it's just the maternal instinct kicking in when something or someone threatens your babys well being even if it's an accident. Just apologise to your dad for shouting make sure he's more aware of where the baby is in future and move on i'm sure he feels terrible too but he will understand that you got a fright.

[ssd]

oh kbear, I'd hoped things mught have moved on and a nice safe care home would have been happening now

I'm sorry for you both, its a nightmare right enough

(sorry to hijack op)

[TboneAndClifford]

Thank you for all the helpful replies.

I will look into age concern and see if they can make any recommendations.

It's okay kbear, your situation sounds really hard.

[Kbear]

Tbone - there is usually respite care available if you ask Social Services - day centres where he gets picked up etc. Hope you work something out and don't beat yourself up, all is well in the end.

[PropertyNightmare]

You poor, poor thing. No helpful advice, just a massive hug for you

[escorpion]

(((Hugs))) OP. My friend´s dad had early onset Alzheimers. She looked after him as much as she could but it came to breaking point and it was decided he should go into a home. It was so difficult her looking after him, epecially as he got worse, and she didn´t have children. The responsibility is huge and I can only imagine what you are going through. Bless you for looking after your dad and caring. I really hope you can get the extra help and support you need and deserve.