I do think that is one reason we are sent GC, (if you are lucky enough to see them) to balance dealing with the older generation. It brings back the innocence of life, the charm and loveliness of the young.
It was very overwhelming to have my dad have dementia. Apart from some one here, I was lost at sea with it all, no support from the NHS or anyone in the health care community. I had no idea what would happen, how he would react to things, how his temper would be, anything. He demanded his finances back in his control at Christmas last year, and even though he was an adult, he was behaving like a child, kept cancelling his cards every week etc. But I still had no choice but to let him do his own thing. I can understand that it must feel confusing in more lucid moments when he maybe felt like he was being taken over, but that wasn't my intention at all, just to care and make sure he was being treated right off everyone. There were benefits he could have applied for , DLA for one, as he was terminal, but no one tells you these things until it was too late.
jogging and morethan Would it not make it easier to move your mother and MIL to somewhere nearer to you now? They don't know really where they are and you are both travelling for a good while to go and see them. Maybe it would be easier on you both to find somewhere nearer and then you can get more rest yourselves. I moved my dad to a care home near me, it made it easier on me to be nearer for any emergency. When you are travelling each way for an hour and then visiting, it can be really draining and driving while so tired out isn't good for anyone. Part of all this is making sure that you are looked after too. Are either of you in touch with any dementia society? Or are you being left to just get on with it, like I was?
My heart and thoughts go out to you, it is incredibly difficult to go through this dreadful disease. Me and my dad did it with humour and I hope, still some dignity. He died with cancer in March, thankfully the dementia had not got really bad, which is the only thing I have to be thankful for. But up to then he would get frustrated, tell me he keeps forgetting things and be sad about it. I used to play it down and say that I do that too and then tell him a funny story to cover it up. It's no wonder my DS is going kicking and screaming into adulthood when there is all this responsibility to deal with as a grown up. Take care, all of you. Xxx