Thursday, January 08, 2009

My Relative Importance in the Family

Okay, I'm just going to say it.

Every once in a while, you need to be humbled . . . reminded of your place in the universe relative to others.

For the past two years, I have been telling my three brothers that it was time to move Mom out of her Florida home to a safer place. Initially, I suggested she come live with me. As she has gotten much worse, I began talking about a nursing home.

My brothers have been united in their agreement that they did not want to take her out of familiar surroundings. Mom would never agree to a stranger entering her home so that choice was out. My concerns that she might burn the house down or fall and break a hip fell on deaf ears.

By default, her dog Dancer has become her caretaker. He is fiercely loyal and has run the house for several years. He wakes her and tells her when it is time to eat or to go to bed. Caring for him has kept her in a routine. She has to take a shower and dress in order to walk him (actually he walked her).

Recently, Dancer refused to go for walks with Mom any longer. It was as though he was saying, "Uh, no. No more. I'm not taking this responsibility any longer. You guys need to do something because I ain't taking her outside this house any more."

And my brothers listened. Now because the DOG says she needs to be moved, they're taking action. Everything I said for the last couple of years was completely ignored, but they listened to the DOG!!!

Grrrrr . . .

1 comment:

Maria Zannini said...

At least Dancer uses her superpowers for the good of your mother.

It's been a constant reminder in my household that DOG knows best.

They sleep in my bed. We plan vacations around them. And if Greg and I argue a bit too long they slump their shoulders and walk out of the room, reminding us that we're acting like idiots.

Apparently, they are the superior species.