Mother on Jaunt

At 86, my mother gets bored. Having dementia is boring, and tiring. She wants to go back to bed at 5 pm. But she brightens at the idea of an afternoon drive so we scoot up to Keeper's Pond, above Abergavenny, where families were picnicking & children & dogs swam despite the stiff breeze. M enjoyed herself. People watching is a joy. Watching her people watching is a joy squared.

I need to remember this as a good moment, even though it upset my mother's newish carer, who says ... well, all kinds of things about me undermining her authority & disrupting routine etc. My sis says am no longer allowed to cover the carer's afternoon hours off.

Caring professionally is hard. The rest of the week will be devoted to making amends & building bridges & turning over new leaves etc. But I am also feeling sore & sad. Until I think of my mother's glee at being in the car, gazing over the valleys, away from the boredom & weariness.