Wednesday, June 29, 2005
When Parents Regress
Everyone who has children know that they go through periods of regression. Your 12 year old may all of a sudden decide that she hasn't quite outgrown her dolls or your 15 year old might decide that He wants to do tricks on his BMX. As parents we understand that this is all a part of growing up and accept it. Our children will continue to grow into beautiful young adults with no problems from thier brief regression. But what do you do when it's your aging parents that regress? Last night took the cake for me. I went over to check on Dad who had been feeling poorly all day. When I walked in he was on the phone to his sister and the two of them were talking like they were back in their "growing up" years. I'm not talking about when they were in thier 20's or 30's...I'm talking when they were about 5 or 6. I listened to my father talk like a little kid and act stupid and all I wanted to do was get out of there fast. He handed me the phone and while trying to talk to my aunt on the other end, he was in my face acting just a stupidly as when he was talking to her. I CAN'T TAKE IT! What makes our parents act this way? Is it their fear of growing older and will we act that way one day also? Is it his way of getting attention from his only sibling? I'm not saying that we all don't deserve to cut up and act silly once in a while. In the pressures of everyday life we all need a little bit of childhood left inside of us. What I witnessed with my father last night was way over the top though. So, how do I deal with this. How do I take on the role of being the more mature of the two? And is it just my parent that does this or do you all have aging parents out there that regress like this also? I'm not ready for Mom and Dad to be the ones in need of care...they are supposed to take care of me still. I'm still young! They are supposed to be the ones with all the wisdom and maturity...I'm supposed to be the one still making dumb mistakes. And does this just keep getting worse as they age? I'm sure my parents have another good 20 years of life left...what age will thier mind be then? That's it for this post...any insight into this misery would be greatly appreciated. Enjoy your days!
