Anna caught us heading off to the dining room.
Sunday was one of those days where I stepped back and watched mom once again make her way to the top of my Amazing List. And now that I recall the day’s events I realize I am riding on a roller coaster again. The highs and the lows. The back and forth. The extremes can be unnecessarily harsh but they do have a way to guide me to some kind of balance. I think every day will offer some kind of a juggling act and I will try hard not to be caught by surprise.
Mom was happy all day on Sunday and the lost and faraway look did not ever make an appearance. She kept saying how good she felt – in fact the best she had felt in a long time. She wondered why and I felt a sweet relief.
Finally a chance to get organized and make some appointments.
The only scratch in the perfect day was the arrival of the Sunday evening caregiver I had hired. I honestly thought it was working and mom had accepted it. Wrong. In fact, very wrong. I don’t think I have ever seen mom so stiff and unavailable to someone in her presence. It could not have been more clear that she wanted her to leave and never wanted to see her again. This uncontrolled anger was a little awkward for me to witness especially since the caretaker was doing her best to make ugly energy – pretty. She finally left and I realized the encounter had provided some helpful insight for me. I quickly reminded mom that there were going to be a lot of new faces in the next few weeks. I know she is trying to understand that there will be an adjustment when Lucy and Anna are no longer the ones that are there for her.