Sorry I echo missdeke post
Orchids and other lovely plants that don’t need a lot of attention
Hi everyone
Just over a year ago, my DH and I moved back down South after 9 years in Wales. We loved our time in Wales, but barely saw our family, although they were full of what wonderful visits, and holidays they would have with us, before we moved there. During the time we were there, we lived very remotely, and as we are now both getting on in years (in our mid 60's), and our health has begun to deteriorate, we concluded that if we were going to move back to be nearer to the family, we should do it sooner rather than later. Hence, we took the plunge and moved back fairly close to our old area. We bought a bungalow, thinking that this would work,
however infirm we became, and moved to a large village, where we have things like doctors, village shops etc., on the doorstep, so obviously very convenient for when we have to give up driving. When we first moved back, everyone was thrilled to have us close again, and for the first few months we visited family, and they visited us, but gradually the novelty has worn off, and I know that they all have busy lives, but I do think they could make more effort to visit occasionally, if they really wanted to. Unfortunately, we really haven't settled here, the bungalow is boring compared to our old house, and all I can see out of my windows other than our garden, is more houses. I am REALLY missing Wales, and am seriously wondering whether it was a mistake to move back, even though we are closer to family, and it will make things easier on everyone as and when we get really old and house bound, although I am rapidly coming to the conclusion, that I can't even begin to think of relying on family, should we need help of any kind, even if we do stay here. I've been looking at houses back in the general area that we used to live in, although am now taking account of things like closeness to GP services, etc., and obviously wouldn't go back to living in such a remote area, but we can afford to buy a very nice bungalow with sea views, and all the facilities that we are likely to need. However, my fear is, that if we move back, we'll regret it, as we get older. I really feel like I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place. So, Grans, what would you do?
Sorry I echo missdeke post
I echo missed me post!
I would move back, nothing in life is guaranteed and if being in wales makes you happy I would do that. If your situation changes and you need support in time, you can move south again
Good luck
Good luck with your choice nanny2507
I read this thread with interest! My house is currently on the market to sell and move closer to my DD. I currently live in a hamlet in the midlands. DD is in Berkshire DS is in Wales. I have no friends and no family near me. DH died 2 years ago. I am very isolated. Will things change when I move to a suburban street, who knows, do I want to move? Not really. I do know I need to be closer to people but budget dictates it will be in a built up area. The best I can do is to choose wisely
Life is too short, and getting shorter for us oder people, to be stuck somewhere you do not feel happy with. I write this sitting in bed with a cup of tea looking out on a field full of lambs and the Welsh hills .... this is what keeps my spirits up as my health deteriorates. I am a country girl at heart and feel despondent surrounded by houses. So I really do get where you are coming from.
Go back to your lovely sea view and friends ... happiness does not always lie in being sensible ....
My son asked me to move home in order to be nearer to him. He had to keep taking time off work and he had used up all of his annual leave visiting me after my Husband's death.I just wish we had both moved nearer to him earlier on !
My mum moved to be near me in her 60s. She helped me a lot when my children were young but gradually built up her own life and wasn't always available! When she needed carers in her 80s, it was useful to be near by as they had a very low threshold for contacting me. It would have added to the stress having a long journey to check whether or not there was cause for concern; especially as I was still working. Some of my happiest memories of being with my mum are from this time and taking her on outings to a beauty spot and or lunch.
I would suggest that a comment is hurtful if someone finds it so. In my book, ‘generally’ means ‘mainly’ when used in this context. I have a good relationship with my child, but on reading the comment immediately thought it insensitive and hurtful to many others.
I am sorry so mny people have been making so much of a GENERALISED comment.
It is neither huurtful nor hgh handed. It is simply a GENERALISED comment.
So people are complicated , families are complicated and things are not always as they seem.
This is such a hurtful and high handed comment. So your dictum is at best unkind.
Lpt1404 I am sorry that your mother had such a difficult experience. This is why I said 'generally'. There will always be exceptions, like your mother, and I have known others - in each direction, but I have said throughout generally the statement is true.
I used to work as a Home Visitor for a charity for older people and when I visited homes where elderly parents and middle aged children were estranged or had difficult relations with a parent, the cause usually stemmed back to childhood.
I once went to visit a poor old man who had just lost his wife, he was devastated and grief stricken and told me what a wonderful woman she was and all the things he did to show how much he cared for her. He had 6 children, most living locally, and none were doing anything to help him. He was a pathetic model of a man.
A month or two later I had another client on the same estate. As she answered the door, she looked up to to the road and an old man tottering along using is stick to support himself and said 'There's that nasty Mr Smith, he used to beat his wife and children, and he has been banned from The Working Mans Club , for threatening people with his walking stick.' No wonder his children did not go near him.
Obviously I also met people like you and good parents estranged, but as I said generally my dictum holds
M0nica my Grandmother did not treat my Mum well, not a nice childhood. But my Mum was the only child who stood by my Nan in her old age. I also do everything i can to help my adult children. I have to disagree with your comment.
OP I think you should stay put too. Do what someone suggested-travel! The family will rally round when you need them I’m sure.
What is there to eleborate?
Perhaps you would care to elaborate?
Horrible comment really.
glasshalffullagain
I think that's very harsh to be honest and it quite upset me.
Humans and families are complex things. I cared for my parents for over 20 years and let's just say they weren't kind.
I am sorry for your upset, but it does not make what I said less true or less honest.
I think that's very harsh to be honest and it quite upset me.
Humans and families are complex things. I cared for my parents for over 20 years and let's just say they weren't kind.
Neither of you seem to have noted that I said generally. There will always be exceptions to prove the rule and I know some myself.
But generally older people get the children they deserve.
MOnica I was 62 when my son decided I was no longer needed as his mom . He knew I was waiting for further tests as they found a problem with my heart. I had a kind loving son for 32 years. . He decided 4 days after giving me a lovely time on my birthday to send me and his sister an email that we where no longer needed . I had a follow up letter 3 months later.
I am not elderly at 66 now nor did I do anything I deserved to be treated this way . And my son decided to have nothing to do with anyone on our side of the family . In my brother's words what the xxxx did I do to him.
You must be perfect and live in a perfect world with perfect people .
Unfortunately life is no perfect nor are people
Monica if only that were true. I know people both in the media and personally who have raised children in homes where one of the parents were alcoholic or in a house with abuse and rowing. Those AC none of them bailed out on parents but stayed close. Read a book about two of our national treasures, where mother put her career way above her children and her husband was an aggressive alcoholic. All the children stayed close and they holiday together.
If I were the poster, stay roughly same area, never go back nothing would be the same that's history, the reason for leaving still stands, but get a house they do enjoy, I don't particularly like bungalows although many do, they are much easier I know, don't expect visits, when they happen make the most of them, but be prepared in your future to factor in paying for care. You are lucky having each other.
Elderly parents, generally get the children they deserve.
Eloethan, I was in a similar position to you, except it was my father who refused to move, in any way, to a smaller house, or my mother's dream, a bungalow. He also refused any help available from Social services because he would have to pay for it, and his mantra was, we can manage, which he patently could not. I had a three hour journey both ways, a full time job and two teenagers. I still suffer guilt pangs.
The OP would be foolish to move back to a different part of Wales where she has no connections, and she will find little support as she grows older.
I tend to agree with your son Eloethan. Most adult children would want to try to assist to some extent, or make hospital visits, should an elderly parent become unwell and that is very difficult for them when they have a busy working life, their own children to look after, and the parent has decided to move several hours’ drive away. It is solely with that in mind that I intend to move nearer family at some point despite loving my present home and the surrounding area. I certainly don’t intend that they would ever care for me.
Eloethan you have nothing to feel guilty about, your mum was an adult and made her own choices.
Too many elderly people seem to think they are entitled to be pandered to in old age, without being prepared to make any concessions to help their family be able to support them.
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