02-24-2019, 04:44 AM
Brian,
Because I was so housebound I wasn’t out and about exercising as I should, I didn’t make it to the dentist, etc... I was feeding mom ice cream everyday so she would have some kind of liquid (and eating it) I gained weight and lost muscle. Looking back, I think I could have taken more time for myself, maybe taken Mom to the Y and let her watch. For a while we did walk the mall. Dad speed walked and I walked along with Mom. Not real exercise for me. But that didn’t last long because Dad’s health declined, too. I think she might have enjoyed watching at the Y and I would have been in better shape. Well, I did take her swimming a couple times. No exercise for me but she loved it. It was so hard to take her places though... the weight does eventually come off but prevention is a great cure. A ball and chain is exactly what you have. Mom was a ball and chain for me. When she died I was very relieved. It took me a long time to truly grieve though because I felt so relieved. The grief class was wonderful and helped me get in touch with everything that was going on with me. I wish I had taken it a lot sooner than I did. I loved her dearly but it was not an easy phase of my life or marriage. But until death do we part... sickness and health. Mental sickness is still sickness. I admire that you honor your marriage vows and all you do for her. Supposedly there were caretaker support groups but what do you do with the “ball and chain” when you go?
Because I was so housebound I wasn’t out and about exercising as I should, I didn’t make it to the dentist, etc... I was feeding mom ice cream everyday so she would have some kind of liquid (and eating it) I gained weight and lost muscle. Looking back, I think I could have taken more time for myself, maybe taken Mom to the Y and let her watch. For a while we did walk the mall. Dad speed walked and I walked along with Mom. Not real exercise for me. But that didn’t last long because Dad’s health declined, too. I think she might have enjoyed watching at the Y and I would have been in better shape. Well, I did take her swimming a couple times. No exercise for me but she loved it. It was so hard to take her places though... the weight does eventually come off but prevention is a great cure. A ball and chain is exactly what you have. Mom was a ball and chain for me. When she died I was very relieved. It took me a long time to truly grieve though because I felt so relieved. The grief class was wonderful and helped me get in touch with everything that was going on with me. I wish I had taken it a lot sooner than I did. I loved her dearly but it was not an easy phase of my life or marriage. But until death do we part... sickness and health. Mental sickness is still sickness. I admire that you honor your marriage vows and all you do for her. Supposedly there were caretaker support groups but what do you do with the “ball and chain” when you go?
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