Again, thank you to everyone who has replied. All of the replies have been slowly working their way round my head, and they're having an effect because I feel more hopeful.
I think what I have learnt while caring for Mum is that it's a gradual transition, and my job is to smooth out the bumps. And now there's a bump that I'm not sure I can smooth. A bump that, in effect, means that I have to let go a little. But I've spent my entire adult life caring for animals, and what carried me through that was never letting go, never giving up.
Something that one of you said, or that all of you said, finally penetrated my consciousness. My cat is old, probably the equivalent of Mum's age. For a few months now he's rejected cat food and only wanted dog food. So that's what he gets now. A vet would probably have a fit, but my responsibility is to the cat not a vet. If I can look at it like that for the cat, then I can look at it the same way for Mum.
If Mum is in a limbo land - a place between "this" and "that"- then I shall do everything possible to make it the best limbo land.
I'm sorry this is not much of a reply. My thoughts are everywhere - everywhere but the here and now.
I've just seen Juggler's post and it reminds me very much of something that's been on my mind lately. Mum and Dad lost their first child, a little girl of two and a half. Perhaps a little girl who is somewhere, waiting ...
I think what I have learnt while caring for Mum is that it's a gradual transition, and my job is to smooth out the bumps. And now there's a bump that I'm not sure I can smooth. A bump that, in effect, means that I have to let go a little. But I've spent my entire adult life caring for animals, and what carried me through that was never letting go, never giving up.
Something that one of you said, or that all of you said, finally penetrated my consciousness. My cat is old, probably the equivalent of Mum's age. For a few months now he's rejected cat food and only wanted dog food. So that's what he gets now. A vet would probably have a fit, but my responsibility is to the cat not a vet. If I can look at it like that for the cat, then I can look at it the same way for Mum.
If Mum is in a limbo land - a place between "this" and "that"- then I shall do everything possible to make it the best limbo land.
I'm sorry this is not much of a reply. My thoughts are everywhere - everywhere but the here and now.
I've just seen Juggler's post and it reminds me very much of something that's been on my mind lately. Mum and Dad lost their first child, a little girl of two and a half. Perhaps a little girl who is somewhere, waiting ...