Uncharitable

My dad fell off a step stool on Memorial Day weekend.

After 3 hours in the ER, we found out that he had a lumbar compression fracture. Basically one of his vertebra collapsed. His pain tolerance was remarkable, admirable, and enviable. Too bad men can't give birth, cause he would totally be rockin that pain!!!!

I have been making the trip to my home town once a week to check up on my parents. My mother's health isn't great either and I have now entered care taker mode of elderly parents. I am so grateful that they have been independent up to this point, since my youngest is now 9. I have much more time to be able to be split between 2 households.

Yesterday I made my visit. While in the house helping my mom, we heard the lawn mower going. It was my father, 3 weeks into recovery of a broken back, mowing. the. lawn.

I. WAS. FURIOUS.

1. That was one of the reasons I came down. And I brought the 12 yr old to teach him.

2. Dad isn't healed yet, isn't supposed to lift anything over 10 pounds, let alone push a mower! He just got released to drive!

3. I felt that it was very reckless and could have caused further damage.

I prayed and prayed for the rights words to let my father know how unhappy I was with his choice.

I should have prayed some more.

I'm pretty sure I wasn't charitable, or respectful, to my father. Who is struggling with pain, humiliation, and loss of some independence. It can't be easy to realize that you are now old and being told what to do and don't do, by other people.

Not much of a Happy Father's Day present.

I'll apologize today when I call him.

a good daughter would!