← Return to Help - I am burned out and dealing with someone who is stubborn

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@keepmoving2

@kartwk I like your spunk! I have read back over your posts about different topics over the last few years & certainly you have had a lot to deal with. But you just seem to “put your big girl panties on” as they say. You keep moving forward.
Straight talk - your journey will not get easier. Especially physically. So let’s work smarter. Just reaching out to this blog site for help & venting is a huge step. 1st - have a discussion with your husband about your wills, both of your health situations, and what you both want. And remind him you love him. Pick a good time. Do not be discouraged if he can’t or won’t talk about any or all. This will give you an idea of his cognitive situation as often illnesses and lower oxygen and age can affect some. Then you need to make notes about your thoughts. From this combined “wants/needs” - you have a plan. Then you take the baby steps to implement it. For example - make your wills known to family members to get them off your backs. Too many people are not upfront & it makes it difficult for loved ones. If you and/or your husband value your physical independence, then get some help. Hire a kid or better yet a handyman or a service to help with yard work, cleaning the house or even shaking rugs. These little help tools make it easier for you both to stay healthy and prevent injuries - which reduce independence. Lastly - there is joy, bright moments, little things that can yield a smile that need to be found or made. Old friends, church members, Seniors Helping Seniors, local agencies, book clubs, a weekly center, volunteer, animal shelter, library, knitting, baking - the world is full of so much. There are 3 of you in this relationship that need to be taken care of - you, your husband and you as a couple. Make a list of the baby steps to be taken - not the giant leaps - and start crossing them off. Some will not be easy. A person once likened it to running a marathon - just do each mile and they will add up. I have done several - both literally & figuratively - never easy nor pretty. But here I am! Good luck & keep moving.

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Replies to "@kartwk I like your spunk! I have read back over your posts about different topics over..."

Thanks so much for the support and advice. This board is fantastic as just coming here and venting for a moment helps my state of mind.

Seems every day has a new challenge. Today he wants to start from scratch. Redo tests, chest x-rays (just had one in mid-Aug.) etc. He's off and running and still the same. I told him, when we last talked about this matter, that they may not be able to do much more for him and he needs to have them figure out how to just best go forward as things are. That WE are both getting old and that neither one of us wants to hear or face it, that is just how life goes.

One thing we are fortunate in is that we have a wonderful Christian neighbor who does a lot for us without even asking. This morning, he was out checking our gutters and blew off the deck! He refuses money but I give him a check made out to his Church as I told him he was the Lord's blessing.

Far different from the step-daughter that will only do things if there is something in it for her. Interesting that we haven't seen hide nor hair of her since June and she only lives 8 miles away.