Aging Parents.

Just when my kids don’t seem to need me anymore (freedom!), I am surprised to realize just how much my parents do. Similar to parenting my 20-somethings, I have to balance my parents’ autonomy with being available to help. I can harp at my diabetic dad not to have the pumpkin pie but ultimately, he is a grown up and can decide for himself. Seeing the health of my parents decline is so difficult and somehow injurious to my self-concept that they will always be my protectors.