[old and tired]

Really, this article was just a long, whiny way of saying that we should all follow the Golden Rule.

[Richard Kimball]

If she thinks it's tough now, wait til she has to bury a parent. The hardest part for me was looking at my dad's hands. I thought of all the things he'd done with them. He was an appliance repairman and put up antenna towers in the days before cable. He's always worked with his hands. Of course, her experience is different from mine. I don't see a 74 year old woman when I'm with my mom, now. I see the woman that raised me. I've never gotten impatient with her, I don't think. It sends a chill through me when she asks me to help her with the things she used to handle easily.

[Hildy]

My mother died two weeks ago at the age of 80. She lived with me for the past 7 years, the past 3 of which she was basically bedridden. Is it hard? Yes...is it painful? Yes...Did I sacrifice a lot? ABSOLUTELY. Would I have changd a minute of it...NO.

[jocon307]

This self-pitying bimbo should count her blessings. My mother died at age 67 after 6 months of illness after about 18 months retirement. You'll never miss anyone the way you miss your mom, and that's the truth.

[Mr. Jeeves]

I spent a good part of my thirties taking care of my dying mother. It's just an adjustment you have to make. I think it's harder for people whose parents have always been extremely competent and independent, because they aren't used to demands suddenly flowing in the opposite direction. My mother hadn't been the independent type at all, so the transition to dealing with her physical health problems on top of her pre-existing emotional/mental issues was more gradual.

[NoClones]

let me guess: the author of this article is a democrat...

no surprise then that she would put out such leftist, selfish twaddle!

[ladyjane]

no matter how old you get, when it is your mother getting sick, you still want to stomp your foot and demand, "OK, so how is this going to affect me?"

What a total loser.

[SweetCaroline]

BUMP for later.

[asburygrad]

I'm really surprised by the posters characterizing this woman as a "whiner"...

just to give you some background...when I was 30 my mom had an aneurysm and was profoundly disabled from that point forward. I left my job and moved in with her and my dad. For the next three years I slept on their couch and cared for my mother - changed her diapers, fed her through a tube, watched her seizures, the whole deal.

I am forever grateful that I was able to serve my parents in such a manner and if I had it to do over again I would make the same choice no hesitation.

Nevertheless I agree with the author when she said "It's funny that no matter how old you get, when it is your mother getting sick, you still want to stomp your foot and demand, "OK, so how is this going to affect me?" Call me selfish if you wish but only a saint could be a full time caregiver without every now and then feeling annoyed or cheated or frustrated or angry. I am not a saint....but fortunately even a less than perfect daughter can be of use from time to time.