My mum is usually very critical of me, everything from my weight, to my hair, and how tidy my house is.
A couple of years ago, my dad had to have a quintuple heart bypass. It was in winter, and we had quite a lot of bad snow.
I took time off work to take my mum to visit him. We had to go by train as the weather was so bad, and she's hopeless with train timetables etc. I packed a flask of Gin and Tonic for the way home, and generally tried to be helpful.
About a month later when my Dad was recovered, he and I did a sponsored walk for the British Heart Foundation. Me, my dad, mum and DH went out for a meal afterwards, where they told me I was a wonderful daughter.
It meant so much to me to hear my mum say that. I've tears in my eyes as I type this!
She's back to bugging me about my weight now though :-)