Categories: uncategorized
Date: 13 February 2004 11:00:58
My Dad's just phoned.
The day has come which I dreaded and longed for. He wants me to think about whether it is still safe for him to do the school run with Smudgelet. He really wants to do it, it will break his heart to stop. He loves that special time with his grandson, and the unavoidable motivation to go out for a walk twice a day. But he also knows that he's now very unsteady on his feet and it's a worry if there's only Smudgelet with him should he fall. And a couple of days ago Smudgelet fell over and let out such a scream that the people around were wondering if they should call an ambulance and Dad couldn't run to help him. (Mind you, it was only Smudgelet overreacting to a little graze on his knee so calling an ambulance might have proved a little excessive!)
For the time being we have decided that, instead of having half an hour at home after work, I will walk up with dad to fetch Smudgelet. It'll be nice for him and me to get time to walk together without the children around, and will probably do me good - both in getting a bit of exercise plodding up the hill, and in learning to slow down and walk alongside my Dad. Fortunately the childminder is on standby to take over the morning run whenever I say the word. Dad'll miss having the little lad around for that hour every morning, though, when they're so companionable together.
I'll have to find another way for Dad to know how needed he is. It must be so hard for him to face up to growing old. Hope it doesn't happen to me like that.