Monday, September 17, 2012

Snow

My daughter is staying with me, temporarily, sleeping in the flat out the back. Mum is giving her a bad time. She says things like:

*I hate you. You're not my granddaughter
*You're trying to have me locked up
*Get out, I never want to see you again
*You're a liar
*You're trying to poison your mother and take the house
*This is my house, and I'm telling you to get out of it

As a result, my daughter doesn't really ever want to see her again. Who would want to remember their grandmother being like this?
I have lost my son, months ago. He was furious I've allowed this madness into our home. He moved out and he won't even visit.
Alzheimers has wrecked the remnants of our small family. My brother and his eldest daughter left the scene years ago. Mum didn't even get a call from them on her 86th birthday. They were in denial about the Alzheimers, and believe that I am taking financial advantage of Mum by lying about her condition.

This time of year, we always travel to the snow and spend a few days in a cabin out in the bush.

I wondered whether we should do it, given her terrible behaviour, and the fact there's only one toilet in the cabin, and she would be sure to dirty it at least once a day.

My daughter finally agreed to come with us on our snow trip.

Mum is generally well behaved when in the car. She likes travelling. It was a 7 hour trip up there (with a few stops).

At times Mum was horrible, but a lot of the time she seemed to be enjoying herself. And when we came back home, she kept saying, "I can't forget how beautiful the snow looked." So she's even remembering the trip, which is very surprising, given that she doesn't remember what happened ten seconds ago.

My daughter said this should be the last snow trip for her, as she was extremely difficult and the stress of keeping the bathroom clean, and using public toilets, was hard. But I'm glad we did take her this last time.


Dead Horse Gap - the snow starting to melt for spring


Hiking at Dead Horse Gap, Snowy Mountains Highway


Perisher Valley


Mum took this picture of our campsite



The Cascades, Dead Horse Gap



Mount Blue Cow




2 comments:

  1. Oh how my heart aches for you, your daughter and your mother. This disease is so insidious and so horrible!!
    You're such an angel to continue caring for your mother when everyone else has left.
    People can not begin to understand what it's like, unless they live with someone with this disease and how it changes their personality.
    I keep you in my thoughts and prayers!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Dolores. You have been an inspiration.

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