timpa.co.uk

All throughout my life I have let my parents do the parenting. I mean, that's what they are there for right? They took care of me until I left home, and even afterwards if I really needed them they were always there for me, even though I didn't always appreciate their help or advice at the time.

However recently I am beginning to become aware of a shift in roles. My grandmother, who is now 80 years old, is still living in the house my mother grew up in. After my grandfather died some 5 years ago now, she is becoming increasingly more frail and my whole family is increasingly worried about her. There has been some discussion of perhaps trying to persuade her to go into a residential home, but I think it would make her lose all sense of identity and who she is being forced out of her home of 50 years. So we have decided to put in a StannahStairlift to give her her independence back. Things have improved greatly for her, but the whole situation has made me think a lot more about how one day I will perhaps have to take on the parental role with my own parents, and how difficult it can be to do the best for someone you love, but who is likely to feel they know best. After all, parents generally do think they know what's best for you right?