Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

How can I do it differently next year?

9 replies

Makemedoit · 24/12/2019 22:20

I know some people will think this will sound selfish but I don't need judging I have enough guilt as it is. So here goes :
my mother is 85 and lives 150 miles away; there is only me and her and I feel obligated; she has dementia - still knows who I am but gets very confused and disorientated; she struggles with stairs and walking more than a few yards; she lives alone in a tiny one bedroom apartment and has carers attend 4 times each day.
I have brought her to stay with me for Christmas week but it is very hard going for the reasons above. She has gotten distressed a few times because she is confused about where she is etc. She also has to use the stairs here for the bathroom and bedroom and really struggles with this. There is no way she can sleep downstairs - tiny house.
I really don't think that there is much quality in her being here and want to do.it differently next year.
I can't stay at hers as nowhere to sleep except in the chair. My 18 year old daughter is at her dad's this year but should be with me next year. I am also at the beginning of a new relationship and hope that we will still be together next year.
How can I meet everyone's needs without feeling guilty? Would it be awful to stay at my mum's the weekend after Christmas on my own and celebrate with her then? I need some possible ideas of how I can make it enjoyable for everyone as this year it isn't. Obviously I don't know how the dementia will have progressed by next Christmas.

OP posts:
Flower777 · 24/12/2019 22:33

It doesn’t sound awful. You could visit either before or after. Or stay somewhere nearby. There are lots of options OP. Sounds like it would be easier for your Mum as well.

Sprinklemetinsel · 24/12/2019 22:39

Try and enjoy elements of this Christmas- at 85, with dementia, next year will be very different. She's unlikely to be able to leave home, if indeed she will still live at home.

Try not to worry about how difficult this year is, next year will be different.

Cuddling57 · 24/12/2019 22:41

You are not being selfish. You have your own life to lead.
Spend the weekend before Christmas with her so she has the nice memories and feelings to think about on Christmas Day next year. Maybe also commit to visiting shortly after too and write it on her calendar so she remembers so she has something to look forward to as well.
I would not want my child to live with that sort of guilt. He will have instructions to live his own life - I haven't raised him to give up his own joy to look after me. I'd get more joy knowing he is having a great time. As long as he comes to tell me all the wonderful stories now and againGrin.
Live your life OP, you are not completely deserting your mum, and I'm sure she lived hers too in her day.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Charles11 · 24/12/2019 22:47

It’s fine to celebrate with her on another weekend. Could you and your daughter stay somewhere nearby for the weekend and visit during the day?

mindfulmam · 25/12/2019 01:41

Next year is too far away to plan. It's difficult to predict how she will be at that point.

Makemedoit · 25/12/2019 10:23

Thank you everyone. You have made me feel much better about things especially as she has woken up this morning not knowing where she is and asking where everyone else is.
Yes we would be able to stay nearby for a couple of days before Christmas especially if I get organised with presents etc.

OP posts:
Davros · 25/12/2019 10:41

She's really better off in her own home, wherever that might be next year and I think you should accept that and give yourself permission not to feel guilty. We decided some years ago to let DS, who has severe autism, stay in his residential placement over Xmas. He is far better catered for there and DD could have a "normal" Christmas for the first time in her life. We see him plenty but not for the core Christmas days. The reality is that everyone is happier this way. I don't care what other people might think about it.

Singlenotsingle · 25/12/2019 10:46

Your DM might not even realise that it's Christmas next year. Maybe you could plan ahead and rent a suitable Airbnb near her, and use it as a base to visit from?

Blackbear19 · 25/12/2019 11:49

I'd go with the plan of having Christmas at home. And visiting her a few days later. Even it means you staying in a Travel Lodge or something. Next year she might not actually know when Christmas is so holding it with her on the 27th or something isn't likely to be noticed.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page