Dear Abby: My fathers declining memory has taken a toll on my parents relationship
DEAR ABBY: As my parents have aged, my father has been misremembering things or making wrong assumptions.It has increasingly gotten on my mom’s nerves (she has also become more impatient and snappy lately), and she has been yelling at him in response.
Sometimes, he responds back, but usually he doesn’t. My sister snapped at them, saying she is tired of their bickering, so they don’t do that around her as often anymore.But anytime I have gotten upset about it or tried to suggest to them how to resolve things, Mom gets upset with me.
My mental health isn’t the best right now, so continuing to do that doesn’t seem like a good idea, but I’m at a loss about what to do.Any thoughts? — UNCERTAIN IN IOWADEAR UNCERTAIN: Before this situation grows worse, please understand that it may be necessary for both of your parents to have physical and neurological examinations.
If you can arrange for that, please do.The changes you describe in your father may be signs of dementia, and your mother may be stressed to the point that she can no longer deal with him without losing it.DEAR ABBY: My 13-year-old son was getting off the school bus.
His friend was in front of him.My son thought it would be funny to take his friend’s water bottle out of his backpack and drop it on the pavement.
A few days later, my son got sent to the principal’s office, not because he was in trouble but because the parents had called the school to complain about their son’s scuffed water bottle and wanted it replaced.They asked for $23. I wrote a check and was tempted to add a snarky comment, but I didn’t.
Yes, my son should keep his hands to himself, but the water bottle is still functional.My son apologized.
Am I living my life wrong, or is it OK that they just invoiced me like that? — UNSURE IN ILLINOISDEAR UNSURE: Your son may have been trying to be funny when he damaged another student’s property, but the boy’s parents didn’t see the humor in it.The bottle wasn’t t...