When my mother died a few months ago, my dad told me that he didn’t want to continue living in their home by himself. In recent years his health has been in a steady decline, so I suggested going to an assisted living facility. As soon as I brought it up I could see the disappointment in his eyes; I quickly retracted my statement and invited him to come live with my wife and I, an invitation which he readily accepted.
Honestly, I was expecting to have to be tending to his father constantly, but he’s been surprisingly self-sufficient. He changes his own Tena disposable briefs, bathes himself and even takes our dog for walks in the afternoon. Since he was a high school math teacher, he’s also been helping our youngest child with his math assignments. The situation is working out beautifully, and I’m a bit ashamed of my prior apprehensions.