So sorry about your stepdad and cancer is so hard. It will be hard on all of you but especially your mom.
You are on the right track with simplicity; I should have downsized and now I can't and will need help getting stuff out of here. And my neighbor across the street, people have been coming and going. Estate sale. Well maybe he went to a home. Well, he died in October. We weren't overly friendly, but he was a nice man. Now I am the last one in my whole neighborhood. Have seen so many go. And some I don't even know what happened to them because I'd chat a little but didn't get super friendly with most, used to when younger.
I think you should just downsize the cookies ;-(. Make one or two a day and give them away or have in case somebody stops by. But everything is different now with visitors and holidays.
I've got grandkids but something went wrong with me and the anxiety, losing my son, a huge family legal battle, tore the family apart that was already not good with some relationships of insensitive people some downright evil and troublemaking. I shut them all off to protect myself from any more pain of that kind. Just associate with the two daughters I have left (try to keep them at arm's length) and some of their children that are close by. I never heard of anybody like me. I prayed for others who wanted grandkids so badly and mine came too soon before I had my son raised, then one problem after another with their damn boyfriends. Just had enough of it, didn't grow up that way. Being divorced for so long hasn't helped, have to cope with it all myself, the emotional part of relationships.
I just do not have the emotional reserves and haven't for a long time. I enjoy the simpler things when I can, my cat, feeding the birds and a few critters, things like that.
I was talking to one of the gals that baked cookies with us this year and she’s estranged from her daughters over her divorcing their Dad long ago.
I think it shows a lack of maturity to NOT want your parent/s to be happy in life. Kids can be so selfish. Been there, done that, too. Nobody wins, but what in life IS fair? Not much!
I’m a HUGE bird feeding fan, too! I like to make my own suet and I always keep the feeders full. The birds right now are pretty DULL, but the Cardinals and Blue Jays and Woodpeckers are slowly returning!