Tonight's picture was taken in January of 2005. Mattie was two and half years old and why I snapped this photo, was because he loved bath time. He went from a kid who was frightened of water to a child who couldn't wait to take a bath. Now I am not sure Mattie liked the actual bathing as must as playing in the water. Toys of all kinds would be incorporated into his bath time fun, and when I tell you that Mattie would stay in there for hours, if I let him, I am not kidding! Got to love that smile and spirit.
Quote of the day: Our pictures are our footprints. It’s the best way to tell people we were here. ~ Joe McNally
It is 11pm, and I am finally sitting still to write this blog. I took my parents to the city today for their dentist appointments. Because parking is hard in the city, and my dad's mobility is failing, I brought along Mattie's wheelchair with me. Isn't it amazing that Mattie died in 2009, and his portable wheelchair was one of the things I kept. There was something about this chair that made it impossible to give away. Now the same wheelchair I pushed around is being used once again, but by my dad. Though my dad was in the chair today, I felt that Mattie was with me in his own way. His presence was felt.
Thank goodness I brought the wheelchair today, because my dad could have never made the long walk from the car to the office. My parents see two different hygienists, so that their appointments are in tandem. My mom works with my hygienist and my dad works with another amazing woman. For my dad's appointment, I am always in the room with him, as he can't answer questions for himself and since I brush and care for my dad's teeth, I need to be part of the conversation.
I have been going to this dental practice since I was in my twenties! My dad's hygienist has been affiliated with the office for as long as I have been going there. We swapped stories and had a great old time chatting. When my dentist walked in to examine my dad, he shook my hand and said...... that he has told his wife about me. That he is amazed with how well I care for my parents and he told his wife, that he hopes one of his daughters turns out to be just like me. I was so taken aback about his beautiful and kind comment, and then the hygienist chimed in. She said she is impressed with how my dad is always so clean, neat, his clothes are well cared for, and that my dad seems so happy.
When I have moments when I question why am I alive and what is God's plan, I get comments like this that remind me the importance of providing care for my parents. Caregiving is not a glorious job, it is misunderstood, under appreciated, and undervalued in our society. After all, it is mainly done in isolation, you have no staff, you aren't getting paid, and there are no sick days or time off for vacations. I can definitely understand that caregiving is not for everyone, and I can appreciate that choice.
What I do find fascinating is while I perform my daily tasks, I am always amazed at who is observing what I am doing. I may not even realize it, until like today, with my dentist, someone says something to me. I certainly don't do the things I do for the praise, but I have to say, some days I am just tired, some days I am just down, and what I have found is words of kindness that we receive from others can turn the mood of a day around.
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