I was chatting to DD1 this morning whilst weeding the garden. She moved into our bungalow 18 months ago and the border just outside her bathroom has a lovely 'Gloire de Dijon' rose growing around the window. It badly needs tying in so I offered to do it this afternoon and give it a feed. There is also a clematis and various other plants that require some urgent attention but my hints were met with, 'I'd love to help more in the garden, Mum but I work full time and you're retired.'
OK, she has a very responsible job and has worked hard as a single mum - with a lot of support from us and her elder son is now at uni but I resisted the temptation to fire back with.....
'When I retired I had already cut my hours to part-time because I was putting in a lot of time caring for my own mother, your father had just had a stroke which meant I became the sole driver, I was doing childcare in the holidays - up and down various motorways for all seven grandchildren (including yours) We then built an annexe so you could move into our bungalow and I then had to resurrect the garden and refurbish the mobile home we bought for you to live in during the building work. Your father's health now requires countless hospital appointments for heart problems and skin cancer.'
Deep breath....
'And while I'm at it I'm running a home and growing vegetables for you (and us) to enjoy.'
I know all our children care about us a great deal but sometimes they just don't get it.
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