Thank you for this newsletter, Jackie and Carolyn! It provided me a very helpful reminder to always be appreciative of people’s kindnesses, and to focus on the gift even if it is not exactly what we wanted. These words were very helpful to me!
I love this essay, Jackie. It gives us real insight into your mom---the mom beyond the cognitive decline. And that helps all your other essays in Role Reversal come into a clearer focus. Also, it's a wonderful story of parents: those mysterious people we spend our whole live trying to figure out!
Thanks for your comment, Jim!! You are absolutely right...parents are a mystery we never stop trying to figure out...and when we feel we've figured them out, we learn something completely new!! These "new findings" have been an eye-opener and refreshing for me. Best regards from Switzerland, Jackie
Hi Jackie – a terrific Role Reversal in the context of the relationship among / between your Mom & Dad – with tangential comments by / to / with You. And here’s a slant or “angle” (gambling term probably unknown to your Dad & Mom – but more on this a bit later) – it’s insightful to also think about the traits / interests / personal interactions persona … that one correlates (or not) with ones Mom & Dad. Surely you & Carolyn can be introspective and “correlate” to your parents. In my (Rich) case, I have a few anecdotes, while Anne is deferring for a possible comment later. In a “word”, my parents personality had similarities & a few “glaring” dissimilarities – as they were married for 62 years from 1928 to my Dad’s death in 1990 – a loving marriage but to be briefly candid, marked by some very loud arguments, slammed doors, regretted insults, etc. My Dad was stoic / hard working / staunch character – while my Mom was mayor-of-the-ward / hard-working / staunch character … with the Dad “stoic” and Mom “mayor” being most glaring and occasion for occasional “tension” in the family – examples best for another time … so “2 outta 3 (similarities) ain’t bad” & actually darn good. My Mom enjoyed phone & in-person chats with siblings (some in Polish with me nearby) & knitting & occasional trip to the Bingo hall – while my Dad enjoyed a beer & listening / watching a sports event & relaxing & occasional trip to the horse race track, So, with my sales career & extrovert personality, I take after my Mom’s “mayor” personality – and I take after my Dad’s “stoic” personality for confronting challenges, along with playing & interest in team sports, and a recent fanhood and “bit of budgeted gambling” in the big American horse race events … and I like to think my character is “staunch”, not so much to praise myself, but to recognize how the basic character of a Mom and Dad can be infused in a child. Thanks for your insightful comments and prompting me to reflect on my parents. Rich & Anne
Dear Rich and Anne, thanks for your kudos!! I'm glad this post "prompted" you to reminisce about your parents. It doesn't cease to amaze me where this road my mother is travelling is not only taking her, but taking me as well. I mean this in a very sincere way. One never stops learning! Much love from Switzerland, Jackie
Thank you for this newsletter, Jackie and Carolyn! It provided me a very helpful reminder to always be appreciative of people’s kindnesses, and to focus on the gift even if it is not exactly what we wanted. These words were very helpful to me!
Glad to hear our inputs are helpful!! Carolyn and I certainly hope we can continue providing "helpful insights". Much love, Jackie
I love this essay, Jackie. It gives us real insight into your mom---the mom beyond the cognitive decline. And that helps all your other essays in Role Reversal come into a clearer focus. Also, it's a wonderful story of parents: those mysterious people we spend our whole live trying to figure out!
Thanks for your comment, Jim!! You are absolutely right...parents are a mystery we never stop trying to figure out...and when we feel we've figured them out, we learn something completely new!! These "new findings" have been an eye-opener and refreshing for me. Best regards from Switzerland, Jackie
Hi Jackie – a terrific Role Reversal in the context of the relationship among / between your Mom & Dad – with tangential comments by / to / with You. And here’s a slant or “angle” (gambling term probably unknown to your Dad & Mom – but more on this a bit later) – it’s insightful to also think about the traits / interests / personal interactions persona … that one correlates (or not) with ones Mom & Dad. Surely you & Carolyn can be introspective and “correlate” to your parents. In my (Rich) case, I have a few anecdotes, while Anne is deferring for a possible comment later. In a “word”, my parents personality had similarities & a few “glaring” dissimilarities – as they were married for 62 years from 1928 to my Dad’s death in 1990 – a loving marriage but to be briefly candid, marked by some very loud arguments, slammed doors, regretted insults, etc. My Dad was stoic / hard working / staunch character – while my Mom was mayor-of-the-ward / hard-working / staunch character … with the Dad “stoic” and Mom “mayor” being most glaring and occasion for occasional “tension” in the family – examples best for another time … so “2 outta 3 (similarities) ain’t bad” & actually darn good. My Mom enjoyed phone & in-person chats with siblings (some in Polish with me nearby) & knitting & occasional trip to the Bingo hall – while my Dad enjoyed a beer & listening / watching a sports event & relaxing & occasional trip to the horse race track, So, with my sales career & extrovert personality, I take after my Mom’s “mayor” personality – and I take after my Dad’s “stoic” personality for confronting challenges, along with playing & interest in team sports, and a recent fanhood and “bit of budgeted gambling” in the big American horse race events … and I like to think my character is “staunch”, not so much to praise myself, but to recognize how the basic character of a Mom and Dad can be infused in a child. Thanks for your insightful comments and prompting me to reflect on my parents. Rich & Anne
Dear Rich and Anne, thanks for your kudos!! I'm glad this post "prompted" you to reminisce about your parents. It doesn't cease to amaze me where this road my mother is travelling is not only taking her, but taking me as well. I mean this in a very sincere way. One never stops learning! Much love from Switzerland, Jackie