A Different Kettle of Fish

Since Mom and Dad moved in with us last in March of 2009, my mother has been drinking tea she makes in the microwave.

 

My DH has been concerned that she might get it too hot and burn herself, but I’ve been more afraid of her using the stove. Mom has a cup of tea with her from the moment she gets up to the moment she goes to bed. She reheats her tea in the microwave many times a day. Many times we find it in the microwave, completely forgotten. My DH was considering buying her a small microwave for Christmas because she was getting upset whenever anyone else wanted to use it.

But within the last couple of weeks, Mom has decided that she wants to use the tea kettle on top of the stove.

 

It has a very LOUD whistle. And that is good, except if Mom isn’t in the kitchen, she can’t hear it. And if she is in the kitchen without her hearing aids, she can’t hear it . So, I’ve told her if she uses the stove to make tea, she must stay in the kitchen the whole time the tea kettle is on the stove. I knew saying this was rather pointless. Mom gets distracted and has difficulty staying with one thing for very long. She has done pretty good- but she has been switching back and forth  from the tea kettle to the microwave and then back.

But in the last couple of days- the tea kettle has become an issue. It has been left unattended and its piercing scream brings me running! And that is good- but what if Mom and Dad are here by themselves and Mom leaves it that way. Dad won’t hear it if he is asleep with the door closed and if Mom is not in the room or has her hearing aids out- then it could be a dangerous situation.  And when my DH is asleep he hears nothing either. So my DH decided to hide the tea kettle.

After waking up from a needed Sunday afternoon nap, I went into the kitchen to find a very small pan of water on the stove. Uh oh.

So I got out the tea kettle and then went in to talk to Mom and Dad. I told her the tea kettle was out again, but said reminded her she has to stay in the kitchen with it. Her reply was of course that she NEVER leaves the kitchen when making tea. Dad disagreed with her and that began a mini-argument. I told Mom it was a safety issue. She told me she doesn’t like making tea with the microwave.  She only likes tea made with the the tea kettle. I told her that was fine, but she has to stay in the kitchen- it’s a safety issue. She laughed.

Dad got mad and told her it wasn’t funny.

Then she started giggling. She put her newspaper up to her face and pulled it down like she was playing peek-a-boo and she started giggling. Dad got really upset and I tried to calm him down.

I said “Mom, if you leave it on and leave the kitchen we might have to take the knobs off the stove.” She said “Well, then I guess I’ll have to move!” And started giggling again. It was kind of…cute. Like a small child. It was better than the anger. But it cause Dad to be upset. And I almost burst out laughing- which would have made it worse for Dad.

This is a different kettle of fish.

I think its time for an electric tea kettle with an automatic shut off…

Conversations

Mom: Your Dad’s bathroom door is closed.
Me: Okay…
Mom: Your dad is taking a nap.
Me: Okay…?
Mom: I don’t think our grandson is in there. The light is off.
Me: No, he’s in the garage working on his car.
Mom: But the bathroom door is CLOSED. (panicky)
Me: You can open the door Mom.
Mom: Are you sure its okay?
Me: Yes
Mom: (relieved) Good!

---

I hear Mom and Dad in the kitchen arguing. I can hear the microwave running.
I walk in and Mom is holding her cup with a teabag in it. Dad is microwaving a potpie. I can see the problem.
Me: Are we having problems sharing?
Mom: Yes! Your father won’t let me use the microwave!
Dad: I am fixing my lunch!
Mom: Well how much longer? I just want to make a cup of tea.
Dad: Use the tea kettle!
Mom: No! I will wait for the microwave.
Dad: I’ll just stop it now and let you use it.
Me: No Dad. Finish heating your lunch Mom can wait a minute.
Mom pouts.

A Very Nice Day

Monday was a holiday-Columbus Day. My secretary had the day scheduled off and I decided I NEEDED to take a full day off. So other than one phone call to the church to find out why my secretary was working on her day off (!?!) I basically avoided church stuff.

I told Dad the night before we would go somewhere- but we kept it a surprise for Mom so if something happened and I couldn't go, it wouldn't be too big a disappointment.

Nothing got in the way- in fact the opposite happened. There roofers came to re-roof the parsonage and so getting away for the day was a REALLY good idea.

So we left the house and drove to Arcola Illinois and went to Rockome Gardens. This is a place Mom and I have been to before and she remembered it so that was great. We bought Mom a disposable camera so she could take pictures- she used to love to take pictures. Rockome Gardens is in Amish country- and so we went to the Amish Interpretive Center and watched a short film on the Amish and looked at all of the museum displays.

We took a buggy ride and also rode on the little "train" they have. We also got ice cream (Of Course!) It was a beautiful day and walking around was slow, but that was fine with me.

We went into the Raggedy Ann and Andy Shop, but that was the only shop we really went into. In the old days, we would have hit every shop in the place.

We didn't go to the petting zoo, or the haunted cave or some of the other features. It was really in sharp contrast to the year before when I took my daughter and grandchildren there! No one was running and no one wanted to play on the play ground or go inside the tepee. Or feed the animals!

We left there and went to Yoder's Kitchen in Arthur Illinois to eat. There was a 45 minute wait and we waited. The place was so busy! We ate around 2:30 PM and then traveled home. The food was good and people were still waiting to get in when we left. I'm not sure when their lunch crowd ends and their supper crowd begins!

It was a good day. Everyone was patient. Dad and I were both relaxed and Mom was enjoying being out.

Dad said he was tired, but in a good way and slept very well.

Mom didn't sleep well, but she can't seem to sleep more than 5 hours a night, even taking a sleep aid prescribed by the doctor. She is up most mornings very early. But she did enjoy the day and I am very grateful!

Repeating Ourselves

Tonight was a rerun of the Rump Roast Wars. Thanks Mom, it makes it easy to write about! LOL. 


I didn't try to tell her that's the way she taught me to cook... I just said it was my way to cook and gave her a sharp knife so she could cut it in smaller pieces. And then- not really doubting my own memory, but wanting some mental back up, I checked two of my cook books and lo and behold- they say to make a rump roast the way I have always made it... and the way Mom taught me.


Say Goodnight Gracie