Today was an unusual day. It opened my eyes and forced me to face a fact I have known, though not admitted, for a while now. My parents are getting old. As a child, I used to dread the thought of anything happening to them. Dread. As an adult, I am painfully aware that eventually, something will happen. In a rather surreal and frightening moment whilst shopping with my Mama this morning, I remained calm. Something I am not particularly good at doing, in a crisis. And whilst I surprised myself with this level of ease... my eyes stung, flesh burned prickly hot and throat constricted. I wonder if I will look back on this incident as the one when I finally accepted the reality of having parents in their seventies. Because I still don't see it when I look at them. But however conflicted I might be right now, they are elderly. And they are frail.
Yesterday, was such an easy day, by comparison. Fish and chips at the beach. Albeit in freezing cold wind and trying to keep a hoard of seagulls at bay... but still, as close to perfect as it gets. Felix ran a watchful eye over rogue birds who dared to get too close. Quite an amusing sight. Checking out the heavy machinery sand-scaping on the beach and a long play in the park rounded off the afternoon nicely. Definitely the 'up' of my week.
Fish and chips at the beach...you are feeling brave! It's freezing out there :)
ReplyDeleteIt's hard seeing those we love grow older, but it is inevitable, so I say embrace it and enjoy every moment you have together xx
Beautiful, beautiful 'up' shots.
ReplyDeleteBut, a sad reality check for you today.
Hugs.
xxx
Ooh seagulls are so gross, so dirty! Sorry to hear about the scare with your mum, it is too sad to think about my parents getting older so I just don't! Head in the sand stuff. Beautiful shots of the boys as usual :) You are so good getting them out and about xx
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about your Mum JJ, hope she is OK x
ReplyDeleteWhat a fright for you! I hope your mum is doing better now. Those fish and chips look delish. If only we could have the ups without the downs. xx
ReplyDeleteOh Julie, I really understand where you are coming from...this very issue has been on my heart lately. I have only seen my parents 4 times in the last 6 years and although we skype regularly it's just not the same. It weighs heavily on my heart that Kaizer doesn't know his grandparents and that all of our children are missing out so we have decided to head back to NZ to live in 2014. It can't come soon enough.
ReplyDeleteFish and chips on the beach, even at this time of the year, is a winner :)
x
Hi Julie..When I last went to NZ and saw my dad meet the plane and he was a little stooped, he looked frail too and that broke my heart. It hurts to see parents we love grow old even though we know it's inevitable...after all we are too. By the way having only seen pics of your boys every month or so for the last 6 months, I am amazed at how they are looking so much bigger now.
ReplyDeleteI also worried about my parents. They are older then year before. Have a good weekend.
ReplyDeleteOh, Julie. I hope everything is ok with you and your parents. That worry must have been eased a little bit spending such a lovely with day with your little boys. Thinking of you. x
ReplyDeleteOh J, hope your Mumma is Ok. I'm starting to realize the same thing, although mum is a little younger than yours, I'm slowly learning to adapt things a little to compensate for her age, definitely wake up call though.
ReplyDeleteLove the shots of the boys, they will love coming up and playing on the machinery here!
We all get old Julie. Or that is the aim anyway :-). It is a tough gig being a carer to young people and parents at the same time but you have the goods to cope. Enjoy them. Love them. Talk to them. Continue to learn from them x
ReplyDeleteHi Jules...I had the same realisation a few months ago...my parents are young and in good health but I have started to notice the subtle onset of changes in them. A few of my friends have lost parents too this year due to death or dementia....really hard...Big higs to you lovely xx
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