It’s hard watching someone age that used to take care of you. For those who don’t know, I am in my home town taking care of my Mom. When Dad passed away my cousin and I learned very quickly that Dad was covering for Mom on many levels. I have no two legged siblings so Mark and I will be moving here to care for her. This has been hard on all of us and I am very blessed to have Mark in my life. He has been on board and helping with all these decisions. There is nothing we are doing that we aren’t doing together, even while 2100 miles apart.
Mom hasn’t driven in almost two years (her choice) and let her license expire. The insurance company won’t renew the current policy, because it was in Dad’s name. Ok, not a problem. I go to put the insurance in Mom’s name. The rate will go up a bit because her lic is expired. If she renews it, it will stay about the same as now. But if she turns her lic over to the state and says ‘I will not drive anymore’ officially, then the cost goes down about 700 per year. One would think this is a no brainer. But to explain it to someone, and ask them to give up their license is not so easy. Since she was 16 her life has been tied to having it. She has a State issued ID as well. So she will not be without ID. This conversation has been had a few times over the course of the last two weeks. Yesterday she turned in her license. It was not easy. Even though she hasn’t been driving, it is he finality of a part of her life. A part that, like any teenager, she was so excited to achieve! Now, a realization that her life is going in a different direction. A direction that we will all face but never want to acknowledge, in any way. She made a big step yesterday. It was hard.
The realization is that she may not remember today, what happened yesterday. Then we will have another discussion when she goes to look for her license and can’t find it…
Life is hard, and every time you think it will get easier, you can get thrown a curve ball. It is said the test of a relationship is how a couple handles untangling Christmas lights. What I would give for a box of tangled lights right now.
Love those around you, be thankful for those that help and/or support you. I may not have any siblings but I have a Mark. I think I’ll keep him. ❤️