Family Takes Precedence in June

It’s hard to believe June is almost over.  I had so many plans for the month.  With five days left, I’ve actually done maybe one of the things on my list.  Sad, but true.

Family has taken precedence this month.  Hubby is still trying to decide what’s the best way for him to handle the situation with his dad.  We went to visit last week, hoping to get the initial awkwardness following the “missing” incident out of the way.  My father-in-law was his usual boisterous self, talking to us as if nothing had ever happened.  We were expecting him to become confrontational and want his truck keys back, since his wife told him that Hubby has the keys.  He doesn’t, but that’s what we suggested she tell him, hoping to take some of the pressure off her. But, father-in-law never asked, and we were relieved.  That’s not to say he won’t ask in the future.

When I asked how things were going, his wife said he’d run out of gas on the golf cart twice in the past week.  At least while the weather is decent, he can take off and drive around their small town in the golf cart.  That accomplishes two things: 1) it gets him out of the house, and 2) it gives her a little time to herself.  I don’t want to think what will happen when it gets too cold for him to be out on the golf cart.  But she isn’t satisfied with the time he’s gone now.  She told me that the boys (Hubby and his brother) are going to have to come once a week to give her a break.  That went over like a lead balloon.

It’s not that they boys don’t care about their father.  But his wife is not going to tell them when they will come to visit, just so she can run off for awhile.  She would get a lot farther if she asked them if they would come sit with him.  Hubby and his brother are two of five kids.  Why shouldn’t the other three do their part to help?  And she has two daughters of her own.  Shouldn’t they be willing to help their mother?  Hubby’s biggest fear is that if the kids start coming to watch their dad, she might take off and not come back.  I would hope she wouldn’t do that, but in light of some of the things I’ve learned this past week, I wouldn’t put it past her.  It’s sad.

On the other side of the family, there are other health issues.  My mom is still going to physical therapy for her shoulder and doing well, thankfully.  Her progress has slowed down some now that they are working on her strength, and not just range of motion.  Dad had a lump on his neck removed last week and had to go back today because of infection.  They said he had phlebitis.  And my youngest brother, who lives at home with mom and dad, has been to the ER twice in the last week for diverticulitis.  The third time, they admitted him to the hospital because he was dehydrated and his creatinine levelas were too high. Apparently, the diverticulitis aggravated his kidney problems.  Thankfully, after 2 days in the hospital, he was doing much better.

Ready for a break from all the family stresses, Hubby and I went to a local county park and walked several trails.  A couple hours away from it all did us both a lot of good!