Gave up driving, but... How to ask others not to encourage driving?

Posted by anotherday @anotherday, Aug 14, 2023

DH gave up driving on his own several years ago. In the recent months several people have encouraged that he drive. Come to this celebration....come to visit....hop in the car and we'll meet in _______. Then he gets it in his head that he needs to be driving again. I need a way to politely, but firmly tell people NOT to encourage him to drive anywhere. I drive, however he will not even meet up with his sister and her husband for a meal because they might see that I'm the one driving now. Suggestions?

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That is a difficult one! How about you meet at a restaurant or a park and make sure you arrive early?

Is the family aware of his diagnosis?

Wishing you well,

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I try to joke he drove the first 30 years now its my turn! Sometimes it works sometimes not. Thats a hard one. In my life driving is a biggy for my husband.
I feel for you.

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Hi @anotherday, there is a related discussion here:
– No More Driving: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/no-more-driving/

But if I read your message correctly, the situation you are facing is not your husband's acceptance of not driving, but rather that friends and family use terms that infer he can drive. It's not helpful when they say "Just hop in the car and come on over" or similar.

The car is such a part of our accepted mode of transportation that it is also an assumption in our conversations. In other countries, commuter trains and buses might be an option, but not in North America.

Like @ihanrath, I also ask: Are these friends and family members aware of his diagnosis? Can you make them aware of the words they choose and offer an alternative, like "Why don't you and AnotherDay [insert your name] hop in the car and come on over."

It sounds like he wouldn't welcome the phrase "Get ____ to drive you over..." as he doesn't want to be seen as someone who needs to be driven.

Am I reading the situation right?

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@bobbisedlmayr

I try to joke he drove the first 30 years now its my turn! Sometimes it works sometimes not. Thats a hard one. In my life driving is a biggy for my husband.
I feel for you.

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We always said when I drive my car I drive when he drives his truck he drives so far it has worked since we always take my car so it’s never been an issue. BTW he can still drive when needed.

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@colleenyoung

Hi @anotherday, there is a related discussion here:
– No More Driving: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/no-more-driving/

But if I read your message correctly, the situation you are facing is not your husband's acceptance of not driving, but rather that friends and family use terms that infer he can drive. It's not helpful when they say "Just hop in the car and come on over" or similar.

The car is such a part of our accepted mode of transportation that it is also an assumption in our conversations. In other countries, commuter trains and buses might be an option, but not in North America.

Like @ihanrath, I also ask: Are these friends and family members aware of his diagnosis? Can you make them aware of the words they choose and offer an alternative, like "Why don't you and AnotherDay [insert your name] hop in the car and come on over."

It sounds like he wouldn't welcome the phrase "Get ____ to drive you over..." as he doesn't want to be seen as someone who needs to be driven.

Am I reading the situation right?

Jump to this post

Seems his older son was not believing his father’s Dementia by saying “if he even has Dementia.”
My response was to send him a recent Memory report taken in March after getting a Memory test diagnoses taken at a Memory Clinic. Also reminded his son that his father had 2 strokes shortly after having his heart valve replaced. Haven’t heard back from his son, so I hope he is convinced.
My husband’s sister also asked what was wrong with her brother so I sent her the long list. Never heard back from her either.
Keeping everyone informed about their loved one’s condition seems to be the best way to assuage their curiosity or non-beliefs.
Honestly, my blood boils when people question me about my husband’s health.

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@janet7

Seems his older son was not believing his father’s Dementia by saying “if he even has Dementia.”
My response was to send him a recent Memory report taken in March after getting a Memory test diagnoses taken at a Memory Clinic. Also reminded his son that his father had 2 strokes shortly after having his heart valve replaced. Haven’t heard back from his son, so I hope he is convinced.
My husband’s sister also asked what was wrong with her brother so I sent her the long list. Never heard back from her either.
Keeping everyone informed about their loved one’s condition seems to be the best way to assuage their curiosity or non-beliefs.
Honestly, my blood boils when people question me about my husband’s health.

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Same here. I must say I had forgotten that my husband had his aorta valve replaced in 2009 the old way and his carotid artery a few years later. Although he has always been forgetful in the past and he never wears his hearing aids 😃. So there are a couple of things I have to consider.

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@ihanrath

That is a difficult one! How about you meet at a restaurant or a park and make sure you arrive early?

Is the family aware of his diagnosis?

Wishing you well,

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He's to the point that he refuses to engage with anyone socially, isolating both of us. No to does the family know. He has not been diagnosed yet, we're in the process of .

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@colleenyoung

Hi @anotherday, there is a related discussion here:
– No More Driving: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/no-more-driving/

But if I read your message correctly, the situation you are facing is not your husband's acceptance of not driving, but rather that friends and family use terms that infer he can drive. It's not helpful when they say "Just hop in the car and come on over" or similar.

The car is such a part of our accepted mode of transportation that it is also an assumption in our conversations. In other countries, commuter trains and buses might be an option, but not in North America.

Like @ihanrath, I also ask: Are these friends and family members aware of his diagnosis? Can you make them aware of the words they choose and offer an alternative, like "Why don't you and AnotherDay [insert your name] hop in the car and come on over."

It sounds like he wouldn't welcome the phrase "Get ____ to drive you over..." as he doesn't want to be seen as someone who needs to be driven.

Am I reading the situation right?

Jump to this post

Colleen Young - you're reading it right. Driving is a big thing for him, he was a professional race driver at one time. The diagnosis is in progress, MRI coming up.

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@janet7

Seems his older son was not believing his father’s Dementia by saying “if he even has Dementia.”
My response was to send him a recent Memory report taken in March after getting a Memory test diagnoses taken at a Memory Clinic. Also reminded his son that his father had 2 strokes shortly after having his heart valve replaced. Haven’t heard back from his son, so I hope he is convinced.
My husband’s sister also asked what was wrong with her brother so I sent her the long list. Never heard back from her either.
Keeping everyone informed about their loved one’s condition seems to be the best way to assuage their curiosity or non-beliefs.
Honestly, my blood boils when people question me about my husband’s health.

Jump to this post

I like it, you sent lists. I may do that. We also have the his children/my children thing, second marriages work that way. My DH younger son recently tried to arrange for his dad to fly out for a visit and was going to get him a rental car. As this son refuses to speak to me, I had to make my DH nix those plans.

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@anotherday

I like it, you sent lists. I may do that. We also have the his children/my children thing, second marriages work that way. My DH younger son recently tried to arrange for his dad to fly out for a visit and was going to get him a rental car. As this son refuses to speak to me, I had to make my DH nix those plans.

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I am familiar with that one. I am also in a second marriage so my three kids are more objective (all adults and out of the house). His son is very supportive but after I shared my concerns with his daughter, within a month she asked him to cosign a car-loan and asked for her and her daughter to move in with us but to not tell me! Lucky our policy is to always discuss our kids but each (biological) parent will do the talking to their kids. You are right and it can be sweet and bitter! Hang in there.
Wishing you peace and strength

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