Countless summers had been spent on the beaches of the North Sea. As kids we were roaming free all day without a care in the world. With mom's memory fading away slowly but permanently my siblings and I went on vacation with her one last time in order to reactivate some memories from the past. Indeed she was able to remember some of the carefree days of summer on the German, Danish or Dutch coast.
Mom's mental state kept changing like the tide but she certainly appreciated being with her children and being taken care of. A bittersweet memory for us because for her it is already beginning to fade away again like footprints in the sand washed away by the sea.
A very nice gesture for your Mom....great pics and post.
ReplyDeleteWe felt the need to do something for her and for us (as long as our own brain is functioning somewhat normally...). Cheers, SonjaM
Deleteschoen, dass Ihr diesen Familienurlaub machen konntet. Ich stelle mir die Situation schlimm fuer alle vor. Die Fotos waren wieder sehr schoen.
ReplyDeleteÜber die Phase "schlimm" sind wir eigentlich schon hinweg. Nun heißt es nur noch die Gegebenheiten für unsere Mutter schrittweise weiter anzupassen und ihr die Pflege angedeihen lassen, die sie braucht, um durch den Tag zu kommen.. . LG SonjaM
DeleteWonderful post and pictures. It looks like a wonderful relaxing time.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Richard. It had been a bitter-sweet time with lots of fun, and a bit sadness. Cheers, SonjaM
DeleteThat's a lovely post Sonja. I have massive admiration for you and Roland moving away from Canada, closer to your parents. When my Mum was diagnosed with a terminal illness, she made it really clear that she wanted us to remember her as she was and not to travel back to the UK. However, I travelled back and was able to spend a few days with her right at the end. It was the right decision for both of us.k
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kind words, Geoff. Had our moms been able to understand what we were and are doing (for them and for us) they would have rejected it. But their minds were already drifting away at that point. Supporting them in the process was and is helping us cope with the inevitable. Cheers, SonjaM
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