Why do the older generation get so uptight about trivial stuff, and will we end up like that?

[sandyballs]

This is about the in laws who are in their early 70's so not really old by any means. They used to run their own company, very successfully, still have their wits about them, certainly not heading for dementia or anything.

MIL rang just now to tell me that DD had left her oyster card at their house yesterday, she sounded really anxious, stressing that DD would need it for school on Monday. I said not to worry it's only Friday, I'll pop in tomorrow or DH would at some point during the weekend.

She starts screeching in the background to FIL saying he must take it over to our house immediately. FIL starts getting stressed saying he has an appointment with the doctor at 5pm and wouldn't be able to do that today, it's a 20 minute drive to ours!

I interrupt saying again, not to worry, there's plenty of time to get it and even if DD didn't have it by Monday she could walk as it's her fault she left it there. School is less than 2 miles away, it's not going to kill her.

More screeching and stress down the phone with a 3 way conversation going on.

Why do so many older people get like this, when does it start, how do we prevent the same happening to us. Is it that they don't have enough going on now that kids have left home and they're retired so every issue becomes magnified.

It really is such a trivial thing and there have been many instances like this and some friends say similar about their parents/in laws.

[DanglingChillis]

My Mum (who frankly has always got a bit het up about certain trivial things) was saying one of the reasons it was important for her to do a lot of childcare for the grandchildren is because she doesn't want to become one of those old people that gets set in their ways. She does still have her quirks though, even with me and my brother giving her a hard time because she refused to accept any decision she ever made could possibly have been influenced by the prevailing culture at the time. Maybe the fact that she has to put up with us means she won't!

PILs are terrible fussers but not sure if they've got worse or not, I didn't know them that long before they retired. I agree with the PP who said a similar thing happens when you are on maternity leave, your head clears so much once you are back at work and decision making suddenly becomes easier!