I know that most of the time at this stage in life we are caring for our parents if we are fortunate enough to still have them here on earth with us.

But, I'd like to hear about times that our parents are still caring for us.

I thought of this because I received a Mother's Day card from my dad today and was so touched.

Also, one day this week I had a real bummer of a phone call and my husband was at work. I walked out the door and went to my dad's. DIdn't even tell him what was going on. Just being in his company made me feel better.

Anyone else still feeling cared for by their parents?

I just returned from visiting my Mom who lives 150 miles away. She just loves taking care of me. She always feeds me home cooked food from my childhood and makes sure I am covered up when I sleep over. Even at this disgusting age, I take clothing with stains no one could possibly remove for her to work her magic on.

She always wants to give me all kinds of things and she paints porcelain so recently she made me a whole set of dishes (for 12) with each place setting a different Oklahoma wildflower. It is a stunning work of art on my big dining table.

While I was visiting recently, Mom gave me some things to take to my daughter for her new baby including a few things she had made for me before I was born.

She also insisted on giving me fabric for some chairs I am helping my daughter recover.

I guess love and helping our children trickles down.
smile

My mother came and stayed with Nathan while my husband John had surgery. I did not even have to ask-just told her the date and when I would pick her up. I don't even remember discussing it. She packed for a lifetime because she did not know when she would be going home.

After John was released from teh hospital she stayed with him and cooked small little things. You know how it is when you feel like crap but if someone puts a little tantalizing food in front of you, you might give it a try and then before long, you are eating a fair amount of food. She did this until John was sleeping through the night and able to occupy himself. This meant the pain was subsiding and he could focus.

She just sat with him and talked when he wanted to talk and walked with him when he felt he could. She is grreat at being with you but not with you.

During the week that John was in the hospital, she was up all day with a 4 year old and then spent half the night lying next to me when I could not sleep. We just layed in the dark and talked about being afraid and being alone. We talked about my Dad (he had only been dead for 6 months). I only hope she took cat naps during the day.

She now is an ear on the phone when the days get heavy. Our relationship will never be the same after this. John needed her badly. His own parents ahd died two years ago.

Yes, our parents care for us. And tell us to take a sweater!

Lynn

Lynn, sounds like you have a wonderful relationship with your mom, and you Dotsie, with your dad. My mom's too sick now to do much mothering but she was a big help to me after my divorce. I lived with her for awhile and she was there to get my son off to school and there when he came home. It was much better than having my son in daycare.

to the women who have posted in this topic...

It is very apparent to me that these strong, wonderful Mothers have produced incredible daughters. Along with them, you are ALL to be admired.

JJ

My mom, even though dealing with her own health issues, still took cae of me when I was in the hospital about two weeks ago. She helped me get up and walk around. She is a big retail therapy person, so I have a lot of night shirts and sun desses to wear while my stomach incisions heal. She is too much and wants to do so much. My husband is very good attaking care of things, so all my mom has to do is visit.

I was thinking of some words that described my own mother to me, as well as all other mothers.

M she's MAGICAL as the stars.
O she's OPULENT as a diamond.
T she's TENDER as the breath of a baby.
H she's HONORABLE as the American flag.
E she's ETERNAL as in forever our mom.
R she's RESILENT as in the steel.

Whenever I feel like life is being unfair and I need to be taken care of I call my mom. All I have to do is send her a ticket and she's on her way. She gives me exactly what I need (lots of motherly love) without even asking why...

I still need my mom.. and she is still there for me whenever I need her. It makes me feel safe.

eveybody needs a mom in their life. My mom is a mom to some of my grown friends now. Even though my husband has been great with my recovery, there's something about a mom.

I can't say enough about my father. He is getting ready (tomorrow) to have his esophagus and part of his stomach removed, yet he is trying so hard to get everything together so I won't have to do too much while he is in the hospital. He even gave me a beautiful pair of earrings and a card for Mothers' Day from him and my dogs...made me cry!! What he doesn't know is that we are taking Saturday to finish moving out of my house into this one so he won't be too stressed out by it. We are a co-dependent bunch, we Reicherts!

Micki, love it. Ear rings from your dad and dog on Mother's day . What a man.

For those of you who don't know, Micki's dad and mine were in Korea together and they have been friends ever since!

Thank God my Mother is still here on earth, as is Daddy. Both are Godly, Christian people who have blessed many in their day including their three children. I call Mom every Saturday - sometimes in the middle of the week as well - to see how her week has gone, what she and Daddy are up to, just to say hello and I love you.

Mom and I are planning a huge surprise gift for Mom's youngest daughter and my sister and we're having a ball. We'll all be blessed by this gift, that's one reason it's so much fun.

Mom sent me a Valentine Day card - the only one I received. When she's gone on to glory, there will be a tear in the fabric of the universe. But the angles will be rejoicing in Heaven!

Sandra, picturing my mom dancing the streets of heaven with all her loved ones who have gone before is one way of allowing me to rejoice in her death.

Yes, Dotsie - I believe in death there can be celebration amongst the pain. A friend of mine had a "homegoing" party for her Daddy when he died. Some folks didn't understand the celebration aspect but it gave her great comfort.

I think I've posted about my Dad's funeral which was a celebration much like a roast. A cousin who is a public speaker told all the funny and poignant stories of my Daddy's life.
At first folks in that small farming community didn't know how to respond. They expected the sad somber funeral that most people have. But soon their tears were being choked away with laughter and everyone was reliving their own funny memories about my Daddy.
Afterward one of the older men said, "If he was here, old Hank would have loved this."
Another of Daddy's elderly friends said, "Hell, he is here."
I understood that. My Daddy's spirit was as alive there at that celebration as it had ever been. Since then, many of Daddy's friends have told Mom that they hope they have a funeral like Daddy's. But there will never be another one exactly like it. Daddy was a unique and special person.
The memories of those funny stories and the love in that small country church on that day comfort me even now.
smile

Hi Dotsie,

I think it is wonderful and a blessing that you still have that kind of relationship with your parents. I used to have that but time has erased that 'closeness.'

I will try and focus on the 'happy times' with my folks. Those memories are so precious.

smile, I once attended a funeral dinner celebration for a friend of my husband's. The family had a catered affair and between dinner and dessert people were asked to stand and share stories so everyone could hear.

I hardly knew the man and I was teary eyed listening to his family and friends share. It was beautiful and a tremendous celebration.

Sounds like your dad was a great man!