I used to be positive and outgoing. But now 3 years into it I am becoming bitter, angry and short fused. I say every day I will make a change but it seems to be worse. I don't mean to but it is over whelming. I try to remain cool headed, I don't get out of control, it is just the snide remarks I tend to mutter, my going off and cooling down out of the area and just my own blood pressure rising. I generally don't say anything if it is not what I agree with, much better than saying something. Does anyone else experience this? I do realize I don't have a lot of years left with my parent and I try all the time but it is the little things that bug the crap out of me. Mostly it is having a house full and no time alone with me and my wife. I have to now schedule weekends away from the place we have built for us. Dinners out are getting expensive. We had 2 hours to ourselves and I made a very nice meal like we used to do and it was heaven.... for 2 hours..... I work at home so there is not a lot of time away from all of it. Trying not to be angry but this whole situation of me being the care giver has turned me that way. I am trying to see his side of it but it goes right into the way he thinks it should be and not the way i want it to be. Feeling like a child at times.
Then, it can help change a person's thinking to a more positive outlook maybe, over a period of time.
Then, even when there are setbacks, some solutions that you have tried and that have worked for you, may help another caregiver.
You have come alongside of your son-in-law and helped by decreasing your drinking to help him decrease his, by example. That was a major good thing!
Then, I read your daughter wants to stop you from interferring in their lives.
I don't know if one issue is related to the other. It may be too personal for you to share.
However, you need to feel better about the time you offered to this younger man, what you did for him, and if the outcome was not what you expected, give yourself kudos just for reaching out to him. Keep up the good heart.
If you decided to stop focusing on them being gone (for just one month even), maybe that would take some pressure off of you. The reason is, this slight change will allow you a different perspective. The next mistake anyone makes won't have your blood pressure soaring to it's previous level, as your thoughts jump to a loud "You are out of here!"
Instead, you can tell yourself:
"Gee, now that they are in FLA, I kinda miss the bloke, having someone to share the lawn work with was kinda nice". "I am going to save it for when he gets back-we'll do it together then".
"Wow, with the kids off on vacation, I have trained all the dogs to do just what I want, and there have been no accidents, especially after installing that dogggy door!"
etc. etc. etc. ( Tg, you are laughing now, right?)
Anyhow, the immediate issue is getting the kids into their own abode. So...while they're in FLA, scope out a few nice apartment complexes in the area that allow pets. Get the info on price and availability. Then when the kids return, you and Mrs. T sit down with them (both of you so you present a united front) and tell them that you all need to discuss the current living situation. This comes down to a simple matter - you agreed to let them stay with you for a short term while they transitioned to the area and secured fulltime employment. As you all know, living together has been a challenge and now that they have fulltime jobs, it's time for them to take the next step. You and Mrs. T will cover first and last months rent up to $x for an apartment for them. You've looked at some apartments in the area and have some info for them - all have availability starting July 1. State this kindly and calmly, but firmly .... body language, tone and words need to convey that the only thing up for discussion is which apartment complex they move into. Once the kids are out, you'll be better able to address issues with Dad. Right now, you're being double teamed by them.
I bring most of the stress on myself. I allowed them here so I have no one to blame. I am trying to help them by showing them what they need to do. It is just frustrating, some days are OK, others not so good. I do listen to the advice and try to integrate the ways I can to work these situations out. Some pieces of advice just wont work (like moving dad out), that is just not going to happen. I have to learn to live with him and he will have to adjust to our way of living (not so sure that will happen). I have to keep things in perspective, there is a lot worse out there. My issues are me dealing with what is here.
The kids on the other hand have to move out for me and them. Just trying to get them to do it is another story.
Dad tells me last night he has to have hernia surgery....... "Oh" I said... "when is this?". "The 23rd, I need a ride to the hospital"... then he walks out of the room..... so really? I need to drop everything? Not like are you busy that day? Will you be around are you on the road that day? Nope, I need a ride...... to and from.... There goes my whole day. I don't mind doing it but hey don't just tell me I have to do this...... Like I would just drop him off.... It is just there is no consideration.
Kids go to Florida Monday, apparently his parents are paying for the trip.... again must be nice, live rent free, free trip..... life is good........ dog sitter.......
VENTING!
I mention this because i think TG is in the same situation. If he can't/won't take our advice i'm glad we can at least be a place for the poor guy to vent his stress and have an audience who understands him. Maybe we help him lower his BP and be kinder and more patient with the team of deadbeats in his house (dad, daughter, son in law). So TG - we're here, we'll support you, but all of us are secretly praying for a happy ending - dad on his own, kids out on their own, you and your wife enjoying umbrella drinks by the pool and lazily planning what to do for dinner.
I wish that TG would go to his PCP and get a referral to a psychiatrist.
He doesn't wish to take more pills. He says "too many already".
But here's the thing. Treating the underlying depression often makes the other symptoms disappear. When we started treated my mother's depression and anxiety, her BP was able to be managed with one medication, not the three she'd been on for the previous 10 years.
But TG has to take the first step here.
no wait.....
It's alive,
the hill is alive,
but the snake is wiggling now.
The son in law is actually working? But it doesn't count?
I love having my daughters to stay, it doesn't happen often enough. But whereas God only knows with only one child of three being a tidy sort, and no neat freak myself, and two dogs and a cat, my old home quite often looked like we'd been burgled by hungry criminals who'd made themselves a few snacks, argued about which video to watch, had a shower and changed their clothes while they were at it and I never even used to notice it...
Well now, they're in the house for two minutes and instantly I find myself putting books back on the shelves, neurotically mopping the Marmite puddles off the kitchen worktops and straightening stray pairs of shoes. Not to mention Daughter 1's tradition of always peeling satsumas in one go so that the empty skin sits on the counter looking like a little orange phallus complete with dangly bits...*
Aww, it's so good to have them home.
TG, this too will pass - but those kids really do need to get themselves launched: "do not handicap your children by making their lives easy" as Robert Heinlein so wisely observed. And you knew how Dad was going to be. Vent away, though, because what really won't do you any good is keeping the frustrations to yourself.
* She claims it's an elephant's head, with a trunk and two ears. H'mmm.
Is the sun room your wide's room, or NOT?
You said:
", we do use the room to access the pool area and to let the dogs out so its not totally off limits. But no one used the doors as entry when it was just the deck."
In what way is this your wife's room? And Sil is smoking out there?
No, no, no no.
I just don't get it.
Take a close look at your floor plan to see if the house can be divided into a suite for you and your wife only. Now, take the master bedroom, bath, sunroom, and whatever else. Next, stand there in that hallway leading out, and picture where you will be putting that locked entry door-professionally installed. Yes! Smack dab in the hallway-can be uninstalled later.
Did you say there is a guest area for Dad with a t.v. room? Hmmmmm. Open that area up.
Give each "guest" a room, a room only. Have Sil, daughter, and Dad share the same spaces, and the same bathroom.
With this plan, someone will be uncomfortable and move out shortly.
Do you have family meetings?
And finally, get your blood pressure checked every week for awhile.
Curious which adult in your life "made nice" a lot and then blew up at you. You seem to have learned that behavior from someone.
Just wondering if you mused on that, you might be able to re-think how to react to frustrations.
Not going to tell you that insight is going to change your behavior.
But for some of us, knowing that it's a learned pattern helps is to be able to unlearn it more easily.
Working on me right now and no one else.
Exactly! There is nothing wrong with reminding him/them that they are GUESTS in YOUR HOME not paying tenants.
I went on an EMS call clase to home yesterday. A 60 YO guy fell off his lawn tractor. Thought he had a head injury. Turns out he was in AA and fell off the wagon apparently very literal! Looking at him hit me with the issue I am dealing with here with an alcoholic. "Is this what I have to look forward to?" Sunday I ran a call next street over an an 80 woman fell. Living with her kids, not much of an injury but just like my dad. "Is that what I have to look forward to." So now it is hitting my outside interest with what is going on at home. I have seen a lot in my career and now it starts to hit home. Not the gruesome calls I've seen it's the little calls.
I reached out to a friend who is a psychologist in my service who does this for a living so I am sure he will understand. With my business I have access to some assistance as well so reaching out to them. Its not a big deal it is just the little things that are building.
Like last night the SIL parks his huge shoes right by the door in my wife's new sun room. I told him, "this is not the new entry and mud room, My shoes are in the mudroom like everyone else." That is what bugs me, no one cares. We try to keep a nice house for us, not really liking anyone trashing my place. Your a slob go live in your own place. Yeah, I am a terrible person.......
1. Your dad needs an evaluation for dementia and mental illness. I don't care if "he was always like this". You need and deserve to know if you are dealing with a progressive condition, a personality disorder or something that might be treatable or at least able to be ameliorated with meds.
2. You need, for the sake of your wife, to learn to tell your father what he may and may not do in YOUR home. That room is for you and your wife. Not him. Just as a starting place. You sit down with dad and say "dad, DW has been having some health issues lately; the doctors say she needs a quiet place to sit, away from everyone, even you. Please respect the fact that this is HER room". It doesn't have to be mean; just firm.
And you feel as though you can't saying anything to him about his behavior, because he's your dad.
Is he showing YOU or your wife any respect or consideration?
I think if you call up any we'll trained mental health professional and tell them that you ate having difficulties maintaining adult boundaries with your elderly parent, you'll find folks who will be able to help you. The important thing is that you feel comfortable with them.
Have you ever read a book called Boundaries? I can't recall the authors name. It might help you gain some perspective.
it's not that I would be disappointment its just I don't want anymore dram in the house. I have enough. I am all for helping family out but after a while its like fish, after 3 days it starts to stink. Carpets getting worn out, floors getting scratched, general ear and tear at a fast pace. having to clean every day, no one helps, its exhausting.
Looking for a counselor to talk with. Trying to find one that wont break my bank and one I will feel comfortable with. Not really any out there that deal with what seems to be my situation.
What I fail to discern is why you think you should be cheerful about this.
Why don't you yell him that no one is permitted in this new room but you and wife.? Are you afraid of him?
Would his anger or disapproval be devastating to you?
Heck, I'd be screaming at him at the top my of my lungs.
Why do you think you can't react to his provocative behavior? Do your siblings treat him with kid gloves, too?
You describe yourself as a caregiver to your dad.
And yet you say he has no impairments.
To me, that really doesn't add up.
I always said that I would never, ever go to or benefit from a therapist who was an older Jewish man. (I was a youngish, Jewish woman, and the stereotype of the older Jewish shrink, familiar from Woody Allen films, was just unbearable).
So I saw young, hip guys, I saw youngish, WASP-y women; I saw a whole basketful of psychologists, social workers, therapists, ALL of whom helped me, somewhat.
But the person who helped me turned my life around was, of all things, the person I was prepared to hate. An older (20 years older than I was), NY Psychoanalytic trained psychiatrist who had the first name of my about to be ex husband.
It couldn't work, right?
You know why it did? He had great training AND he was a musician (as am I). We had a shared vocabulary, a short-hand that made me more able to explain stuff to him and made him more able to explicate my situation to me.
You really just have to go and see if it's a fit, TG.
The punchline is that when someone gave me a short list of three divorce lawyers, and one of them had the same first name of BOTH my ex and my therapist, I said, naw, that's a bridge too far.
Who could keep track of three guys with the same first name?
There are miles and miles of ground between being "mean" and "not caring" versus just not being a door mat. Door mats are only good for getting dirt off people's feet. They don't help people become better people, and they don't help resolve any of their other problems.
He and his wife simply have to learn how to swallow their feelings of being used and manipulated by this old codger.
He's only going to live for another 15 or 20 years, after all.