A Quick Start Guide to Parent/Child Role Reversal
Turning an obligation into an honor.
I knew it was out there, stalking me from the shadows of time. Parent/child role reversal is nothing new. It was easy to ignore until it became the reality of my life. Pausing my thoughts, I swivel my head left then right just in case any other ordinary inevitabilities might be sneaking up on me. Other than a slight midlife crisis, the coast is clear, and I can return my focus to helping my mom cope with the problems of aging.
“Mom and I are knee-deep in the inevitable swapping-of-roles segment of life, switching places as we reminisce about favorite memories, travel together to doctor appointments, and discuss how to operate modern technology. Unconditional love includes repeated tutorials on navigating the internet and accessing voicemail messages from a cell phone. Helping her while not stepping on the toes of her independence is tricky at times.” — Excerpt from Walking Old Roads: A Memoir of Kindness Rediscovered by Tammy Hader
If you know what I’m talking about, then you can nod in agreement with the rest of this article. If you aren’t quite there yet, then you may want to make note of the points I’ve figured out in the last few years.
1. Allow Yourself to Grieve
