To worry about this all the time

[mrspinksnow]

My parents are in their early 70s and are fit and healthy. We have a really good relationship and are very close. Every time (over the past year or so) I go and see them or we spend time together I leave feeling really down. I replay memories from my childhood in my head and think about the amount of time I have left with them, I worry about not having them around and the gap it will leave in my life Does anyone else ever feel like this? I have two lovely DDs and a great DH so it's not like I am alone but just can't help feeling like this

Yes it's my biggest fear. My dad died when I was 20 (I'm 33 now) so just my mum. It makes me feel really sick thinking about 'the one day' .....

Yes my parents live 500 miles away in our home town of Aberdeen. I m in South East England and go up as much as I can. They're in their late 70s and my dad has had a stroke that left him with night time epilepsy. Every time he is hospitalised I worry and want to go up there.
He used to be a fit strong man and is still my hero but it's so sad to think they won't be around one day.
My parents gave me a fantastic childhood and I love them so much I wish I saw them more often.
I worry how my mum copes when dad is in hospital. They've rarely been apart for over 50 years.

YANBU.

MrsPink, at least you appreciate time is limited and therefore precious and you see your lovely parents often. So many people don't till it's too late.

Enjoy the time, however long or short, with them and store those happy memories away for the future.

This is absolutely no help,I'm afraid,as its "do as I say,not as I do" but don't spoil your present worrying about the future.
My parents are dead now (I'm in my late 50s and they died about 15 yrs ago). I still miss them,obviously.
But I get to work sometimes in the town I grew up in,it would bring back those childhood memories and make me sad,because they were gone ( my best friend growing up sadly died in our late 20s so I think of her as well).
Last time I thought - this is stupid,these are happy memories.I had a happy childhood,I loved my parents,I loved my friend,we had fun.This is a positive thing,having had all that.So now I try hard to get joy from those memories,which doesn't always work but still!
(Actually if my Mum were still here I'd probably talk to her - I can't see her going along with the gloom at all )

Your parents may be with you for another 20 years,they may not but it's good that you are close to them,it's good that you have the memories of your childhood. Enjoy.

YANBU. Currently living with my parents so they annoy me at times but with them approaching their 70s there are more and more health scares happening in their lives and each one sends me into horrible thoughts.

I know they’ll not be here some day but I physically can’t think about it or I would cry 24/7

Both my parents died last year just 3 months apart, my mum was 70 and my dad 75. I was 34 and pregnant when I lost them both. It's completely broken me. Please just enjoy the time you have with them.

I know exactly how you feel I lost my mum aged 22 and live far away from my dad he visits me regularly though but I hate saying goodbye

YANBU... I've thought like this FOREVER!! Can't help it!! I'm mid-50's and my parents are nearly 80 & 90 - in relatively good health... we meet to go shopping/they still go on holiday with us etc etc... but i find it impossible to imagine how life could possibly go on without them - can't help it... and yes i have dh/dc's/good friends etc... i treasure everything with them/make the most of everything... but still...

Hotpinkangel19

I can't even think about it as it's too scary I'm a only child so feel really scared and that I will be the only one to remember my memories and childhood I don't even think about it as it be too sad I have my husband and so but can't imagine not having my parents

YANBU. Every Christmas and birthday I think "How many more do we have?". On the bright side, it makes me make much more effort to see them and spend time with them, and generally appreciate them more.

And btw we are the lucky ones to feel this way - I am constantly shocked by the number of people on MN who feel nothing but bitterness or resentment towards their parents, rightly or wrongly.

I think this is a natural feeling, as another poster said “enjoy the time you have with your parents”

I occasionally find myself thinking of how my dc/dgd will cope when I pass away. Currently 53 and in good health - I have to snap out of these thoughts as I find it very upsetting.

Live everyday to the full as you don’t know what is around the corner.

I used to have recurring dreams about my DM dying as a teenager, I'd wake up sobbing because it felt so real. It's still one of my biggest fears and I've even considered distancing myself a bit as a sort of self preservation because the hole she will leave in my life is so huge. I won't of course and I'm trying my hardest not to let my fear override the joy of having her in my life but I totally understand how you feel OP

@Hotpinkangel19

I remember you. I’m sure you posted on a bereavement thread I was reading.

How are you doing?

My mum died very suddenly aged 67 about 18 months ago. I was pregnant at the time and it did make it harder, she loved babies and was so excited. I hate that she never met my son. It has made me very worried about when my dad will go.

Yes, definitely me. I moved back to my home country because of this. I was only seeing them annually and calculate how many times I'd see them again. Very depressing, moved back so I'm closer and can see them more regularly.

I also replay my childhood all the time, especially our caravan weekend getaways, I'm in South Africa, so great caravan parks, they were the best of times. I'm really close to my parents and constantly fear they will call me and give me bad news about their health, although both very healthy and active. My mother is 71 and father 69. Married for 42 years and very secure, stable and supportive parents. I must add they are not my biological parents, I was adopted at 6 weeks, my mom can't have children. She wrote this poem:

Not flesh if my flesh or blood of my blood, not born under my heart but in it.

@instasham I'm doing okay thank you for asking x

I could have written your OP - both my folks are early 70s. I think about them passing far too much, and can't quite get my head around the inevitability. But then i tell myself to stop thinking and try and carry on. x