I saw my mum & dad the other day. They are like chalk and cheese on the glass half full spectrum.
My dad is eternally optimistic even though he has early ish stage dementia and physical frailties. He has always been like this.
My mum is eternally pessimistic - expect the worst and you won't be disappointed. Has always been like this.
She has lots of physical issues but largely around mobility. But pretty good on the mental front. Lots of her friends have died who she relied on for good conversation etc. She always wanted to be allowed to euthanise herself if she got dementia (?) but obviously didn't foresee physical limitations so much. She often talks about the things she can no longer do etc. I mentioned doing a trip to a NT property before Christmas that is the sort of thing she used to love to do and thought of ways it could be possible but she didn't seem very enthusiastic. This is one example.
I just thought, on my drive home, my mum could easily last another 10 years and I feel unable to think how she would deal with that mentally.
My sister is much more bossy than me with them, I try to listen and take cues from my mum, I thought my sister and my different approaches work well. But maybe my mum responds better to my sister as something to rail against!?
I think my mum has kind of been expecting death for the last 10 years really. Since she reached the age her mum died. Her dad died in his mid fifties.
My mum and dad luckily have always been very close. Although my dad's usual personality is reduced since dementia. She is his carer. He tends to do the physical stuff for her like make tea and fetch things.
I suppose I'm just venting. But anyone else have similar?
It's crappy getting old.