How independent do you expect your elderly parents to be when traveling

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My parents are in their early 70s and are great travelers. My mom comes up to bring my 4 yo son to his therapy appointments each week and then take my older kids to school the next morning (she lives 2 hours away). She visits my brother and sister every 6 weeks or so - they are each a (separate) flight away. She usually ubers to their houses from the airport unless they insist on picking her up. Then she travels internationally twice a year or so and does various weekend trips with her partner and/or girlfriends. (My dad is passed but her partner is an even better travel companion than she is in terms of making plans, keeping track of things, navigating, etc.) This is making me feel very lucky. For all her foibles, she knows being a working mom with young kids is much harder than being a retired person with occasional health difficulties and tries to accommodate all her kids and grandkids.

Your mom sounds amazing, and what I aspire to be. Some parents teach us what not to be, and some teach us what to be - and I wish I had local family to help like this, PP. Some grandparents were awful as parents, and only worse as grandparents. Enjoy your family, so precious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s time to accept that your parents are aging and will need progressively more help from now on. Just answer her questions and help as much as possible.

OP here. Here’s the thing— I have an older unmarried sister, late 40s, who hardly helps them and who they treat like a child. Every time I suggest they reach to her, crickets. This has been a big part of the problem. She’s not disabled, either. My mom just has a thing for playing helpless with me.

Leave the sibling out of it, that’s their business.

Ok, but then they can leave OP out of it, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s time to accept that your parents are aging and will need progressively more help from now on. Just answer her questions and help as much as possible.

OP here. Here’s the thing— I have an older unmarried sister, late 40s, who hardly helps them and who they treat like a child. Every time I suggest they reach to her, crickets. This has been a big part of the problem. She’s not disabled, either. My mom just has a thing for playing helpless with me.

Leave the sibling out of it, that’s their business.

Ok, but then they can leave OP out of it, too.

You’re petty. If you can’t be a mature adult don’t give advice