AGING
Our Senior Parents Are Messing with Us — on Purpose!
My Mom almost drowned and laughed about it
“Mom, I’m returning the paddleboard. Don’t go in over your knees! I’ll be back in a few minutes,” I instructed.
“Ok,” she replied.
“Hey, kids! Watch Ngn Ngn!” I yelled over my shoulder as I paddled off.
Ngn Ngn is what my kids call my Mom. It’s a Chinese designation for grandma on the paternal side. They were tossing a football back and forth, and although they’d been good about helping my Mom during our vacation to Hawaii, I knew to keep an eye on her.
At age 77, my Mom was fulfilling her role. Elderly parents seem to relish not listening to their middle-aged kids. It’s no doubt a way to get us back for being unruly teenagers.
Mom has the senior hunch; her core is weak, and her gait is a little wobbly at times. She needs to pay attention to where she walks and wear shoes that don’t make her more prone to fall. I’ve asked her to walk barefoot, but she’s squeamish about it.
Walking barefoot gives our toes a chance to spread out, curl, and feel the ground. Our feet evolved without…
