My days follow a very similar routine. I wake up early, have coffee and a small breakfast, watch the news, read some blogs, and get ready.
Around 9AM I drive over to my parents’ home and stay there with dad (and mom) until late in the afternoon. Mom and I take turns bringing dad to the bathroom, making meals, feeding him, doing dishes, cleaning. I usually run to the pharmacy to get medicines or adult diapers.
Today I clipped and filed his nails. My brother works nights: as an ambulance driver for the ambulance at a local hospital. He helps dad take a cloth bath.
I also just keep mom and dad company, make tea, watch TV with them. I started a small jigsaw puzzle. We take turns doing exercises with his left arm, hand and fingers (currently not functioning). I purchased a sketch pad and pencils so dad can start drawing with his right hand (he is a great artist).
I feel bored out of my mind. Dad and I don’t have a problem just sitting in silence. My mom, however, loves to talk. She repeats herself all the time, tells you the same stories. She narrates what she is doing at the moment, describes dad’s bodily movements. It’s exhausting to pay attention to what she is saying, and I noticed that I started to tune her out. That’s why I got a puzzle. I can work on a puzzle and listen with one ear to what she has to say.
To me, their house is hot and suffocating; the windows are not opened since my mom is afraid of “drafts.” When she goes into the kitchen I crack a window in my dad’s room.
I usually leave their house at around 2-3pm, sometimes later. I noticed I need to do something before coming back to my apartment. Here are some things I did (some alone, some with mom):
This coming Tuesday I have theater tickets after dinner.
I have to remind myself that I am not here to have fun but to spend quality time with dad (and mom). Tomorrow I want to open a checking account with one of the biggest Russian banks, just to have the debit card in case I need to purchase things from overseas for them.
Finishing the post with a picture of me with the sign that says: “I ❤️ Chelyabinsk”
Mom of Children 