After meals, the matriarch likes to go upstairs to her room; if it is after eight, the television is off and she sits in the dark till bedtime at nine. If it is after lunch, the matriarch retires to her room, sleeps a bit and then begins the daily quest of asking me or one of my children what the time is. At six, she turns on the news--no correct that, one of us goes up and turns on the television so the matriarch can watch the news, 'Wheel of Fortune,' and 'Jeopardy.' If it is after breakfast, usually, the matriarch just goes to her room and sleeps till lunch.
I don't know why it bothers ME so much that the matriarch spends so much time in her room, alone, but it does. So...
Dessert is now served after every meal. Yes, I know this means a weight problem for the rest of my life, but it is an incentive to keep the matriarch in our company for a longer period of time. Call it the advantage of her liking sugar so much--there is no way she will pass up a sweet...even if it means she has to spend more time in our company. And, she eats so slowly, the children can sort of practice piano in her presence. They are in a different room but can be heard.
My children experiment with their cooking on their grandmother--seeing which of their baking she will eat: pudding, yes; scones, no; rhubarb and custard, yes; chocolate chip cookies, no. The woman doesn't really say anything to their efforts; she does indicate there are things they bake she cannot chew. The only drawback, of course, is the one my husband has discovered: no matter how much his mother eats at dinner--including dessert, she still wants her fruit and sugar at night. But she stays in the room with us and for that she must be applauded--I think.
And, yes, I know I don't have to eat dessert after every meal; but, it is a way of avoiding the chocolate chips with which I still stress out on in rampaging fits; it seems if I am well and truly full, they are avoided. Or, at least, delayed.
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What a lovely post :) She's one lucky lady, even if she doesn't realize it!
ReplyDeleteConsider this FLAB -acronym for Frustrated; Lonely; Anxious; Bored.
ReplyDeleteBefore you reach for food, ask yourself: Am I feeling frustrated, lonely, anxious or bored?
Your mother-in-law is nearing the end of her hilly days; you haven't reached the crest of yours! So feed her all of the soft food, oatmeal with lots of milk and sugar; soft boiled eggs smashed up and served with biscuits that can be dunked in warm tea; boiled rice with lots of sugar and milk put through the blender; lots of home-made soups that are put through the blender and served thick; and lots of desserts. If you eat salads and soups, and whole fruits, you won't gain weight; and you will also set good examples for your children. Because if they see you eating lots of sweets to keep their grandma company, they may want to eat lots of sweets to keep you company. A mother's stress is also shared by her children!