I worry about my parents - in their 80's -- because they don't seem to realize they can't do what they used to. Dad finally stopped climbing up on the roof to clean the gutters -- but he still tries to work with the chain saw. My mom is misplacing things so often now that I worry if she'll forget to turn off the stove when she goes to bed -- and neither of them should really be driving -- dad told me he was thinking about something and drove right through a red light and my mom thinks that a 35 mph sign means from one mailbox to the next -- topping off at 50 mph. She won't wear her glasses and she simply shouldn't be driving. What do you do? If I ever want her to talk to me again -- I certainly can't tell her she needs to stop. It makes me think about an 80+ yr old man that couldn't pass the driving test here in Fla -- went back to his home town in Ohio and got his license -- two months later -- ran over two little girls sitting in their driveway waiting for the school bus and killed both of them -- kept going -- the police found him at his daily restaurant having breakfast -- he thought he had hit the trash cans and didn't have a clue he had hurt anyone.

In the case of countrygirls mom having surgery -- I work for a home health care agency -- and we do that alot -- go in for a couple of hours during the day for a week or two to help people like your mom and dad out until they are back on their feet -- fill in when the family can't be there -- so you may want to check that out too. It can be expensive -- but when you consider the babysitting fees and gas prices -- maybe it would be helpful. And maybe you could find someone to "live in" and help around the farm -- exchange room and board for helping with chores (and keeping an eye out for your parents in the meantime)

With your children you are supposed to be in charge -- you're allowed to make decisions about their life -- but with your parents -- they really don't appreciate having a youngster telling them what to do --

I wish I had a large family at times like this -- my sister is in Nebraska and my brother is in Montana -- leaving me here with my parents -- and with only one son -- I worry who's going to be here to take care of us when we get to that age.

Maybe I better start training my pomeranians to cook, clean and change Depends