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[quote=Anonymous]We just buried my dad at 87 after a LOOOOONG battle with cancer.  We were heavily involved beginning about two years ago when my mom fell down and broke her hip and my dad was unable to care for her.  They live on the opposite coast and we have all spent way too much money on plane tickets, and spent a lot of time on the phone with them and each other, handling logistics and problem solving.  We are now working on getting my mom into assisted living, and will likely move her near family and then arrange to have at least one of us visit monthly.

My basic issue is that I'm an introvert and I am feeling the kind of tapped out that I felt when I had multiple toddlers.  I don't like being on the phone for several hours a day, don't like spending all of my down time visiting people.  I am exhausted talking to my kids on the phone, talking to my in laws, talking to my elderly parent, siblings, social services, doctors, etc.

I also find myself falling back into that thing I did when the kids were little -- neglecting my own dental appointments, doctors appointments, etc.  because by the time I have done everyone else's appointments, I'm too tired and burnt out to do mine.

I'm concerned because apparently my mother could live another ten years with dementia, and I can't imagine a life in ten years that includes my kids, their spouses, grandchildren, as well as elderly parents requiring care.  I feel like I don't have the bandwidth to do all that and work.

I would suggest getting a good therapist now, talking to her or him at least monthly, and having some seriously conversations about boundaries, knowing your limits, making time for yourself, etc. [/quote]

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