I have found myself sandwiched between the generations. I am the reliable Nanny to a two year old and the dutiful daughter of and 87 year old. In many ways their needs are similar and equally disimilar. I find myself 'on duty' 3-4 days a week for the former and 24/7 for the latter. Where did the luxury of a lie in or an uninterrrupted viewing of a whole TV programme go? This is by no means meant to sound whingeing or bitter. I love them both to bits. But I find myself fulfilling the duties of the youngest daughter which smacks far more of the situation of the early 1900's than the go getting 21st century.
Then of course there's my other charge. Blue eyed and blonde, totally scrumptious and into everything. That's not so bad if I was half my age , but getting down to change nappies and play on the floor poses problems about getting up again.
Mother had a total shoulder replacement last week and was sent home from hospital after 2 days! We were struggling through famously with washing, dressing and catering until this morning. I had nipped downstairs to put a wash on when - thump. Ma had tripped over and come down with a real bump. I did the usual checking on wiggling toes and fingers and signs of concussion, but I just couldn't lift her so called an ambulance. Well they wanted to know everything over the phone before they deemed that an ambulance was necessary but the frustration of this was negated when 5 minutes later a tall and dishy ambulance man turns up. I joked that it was a long time since she'd had a handsome young man in her bedroom while he checked her over. It was decided to get her up to the cottage hospital and there she shall stay for 3 or 4 days to recuperate and convalesce. Which of course it what whould have happened after the surgery.
So it's been quite a day. Now just to decide what flavour jam I shall be.
