So sorry for your frustrations. I have shared many moments like that one with my family. Maybe you should've rented a electric chair but remember it isn't just your responsibility for your care! I expect my family to intervene when I am obviously making a bad decision. I can still say no but it gets rid of all the guilt. I'm just wondering if you know your limitations and accept them. I finally have and the freedom it brings leaves me speechless. I use a wheelchair nearly every time if I have to walk more then 1/2 block. No way I can keep up with my family and it helps provide me and them with more independence. Good luck, I'll pray for you. Robin

I wrote this long screed the other day and blew it looking for the actual quote and author of: "as parents you cannot hope to succeed, the best you can hope for is to fail gracefully."

I was going to say that parents are not entertainers although our kids will accept us as such and encourage it. Parents are the ones who can provide the love and knowledge that help our children get through the problems we all face in adulthood. Grandparents can do the entertaining --right, Ann. And we can contirubute to the love and knowledge, too. Yes we can.

I was also going to remark that your little gal was probably tired and didn't want to go home, too and you provided her a way to do it gracefully, which isn't to diminish the grace she used (which she probably learned by example). And that nicole's 4 y.o. was probably proud of anticipating and understanding mommy's needs, and rather takes them for granted "Don't all mommies take breathing medicine?"

Children need to know what is going on, because it is dangerous and can be even more traumatic if they don't. They will both enjoy helping you and resent it (not necessarily at the same time). That is true of all children toward all parents, although some children are more indulgent and others may seem oblivious.

There were probably more pediatric ramblings. :-) but just remember children were put here on earth to keep you humble and feeling inadequate (I don't really believe that, but they do). So, run, roll, or hobble, but fail gracefully. b.

I love you Bee, you are so wise. Lately I find myself saying that my children are growing into good people, not because of me, but in spite of me. I really mean that. They are (all 13) crash dummies. The grandkids get to benefit from the mistakes already made on their parents. You guys are so awesome. Every single one of you. So much you add to my perspective of my own little world. Thank you, and Dizinerd, my dad made alot of very serious mistakes, some that you would not even think of making but he was my first love. Just imagine how much you mean to your little girl!! And I agree, three hours is a long time. lol

Good for you for trying!!!
I can so relate to you-last weekend my husband and I went for a drive and saw a flea market-so wanted to stop but know that I wouldn't be able to walk around with the heat-it was a disappointment to my husband and myself. Take about depression!!!!
I agree with thirteen that dreams are a way of getting 'rid'' of the things that are going around in our heads.
Keep up the spirit and try as you might!
deb

Thanks for all the kind words yo uguys. I am still learning my limitations. The past few months I seem to be getting worse and worse. My neuro told me it would be 6 months or more before I start to feel anything from the Azathioprine. LEarning my limitations takes time I guess. Accepting them is easier said than done. I'm trying though.

B- I love what you wrote about the kids. Its so true.

First -- congratulations on going to the fair! You have written something that I have experienced many times. I am often just barely holding on, but putting on a brave face.

Recently, my ankles have really started to bother me -- both of them. It makes it so I can barely hobble down the stairs. Someone mentioned compression fractures as a side-effect from the steroids. Oh well. On Thursday I had the kids for a whole day because day camp doesn't start and school was over. So we went to the Brooklyn Museum and I saw a wheelchair in the coat check area. I asked to borrow it and they were very nice. I didn't have to prove I was a cripple or anything! The museum wasn't crowded and I had a pleasant time just sitting and rolling around for 90 minutes talking about my favorite paintings while the girls hung on their father's wheelchair.

The girls tried to help push me and on two occasions strangers remarked to me how nice my children were. Twice! That has never ever happened!~ I mean, never. It was an eye-opener.

So, use the museum wheelchair when you feel like it. It makes your children behave (temporarily) like little angels. ~Joe

Lol Joe! If your daughter is half as sweet as she is cute, you have nothing to worry about.