NEFFR: My Mother...

blue goose

I just have to vent a little bit. 

I just adore my grandmother.  She's wonderful and amazing and a joy.  She's my mother's mother.  She also just had an outbreak of Shingles.  She's in pain, she's uncomfortable, and she's all alone.  Her sister passed away a few months ago, and her husband passed a few years ago.  She feels pretty alone.  My mother, however, lives very near her, and they spend a lot of time together, so she's not often lonely.

Until now.  My mother, who is kinda nutty, refuses to be anywhere near my grandmother.  She's afraid somehow she'll be "contaminated" and I won't let her around the baby (who hasn't even been born yet).  So my poor grandmother is holed up being treated like a leper and is all by herself in her home.  My mother even told her she was not allowed to come to Thanksgiving because my mother doesn't want to "jeopardize" her ability to see the baby once she comes.  I've tried to explain that it's only a problem if my grandmother is directly near my baby (after she's BORN), but Mom will hear none of it.  She won't sit in an outside chair if my grandmother might have sat in it, and she won't let their dogs intermingle in case she is "contaminated."  My poor grandmother considered getting Meals on Wheels for Thanksgiving. 

I've asked her to please come to lunch.  She said she will if my mother "lets" her.  UGH.  I will, of course, go to lunch with her instead of my mother if it comes to it, but how ridiculous!

Thanks for listening.  My mother drives me crazy sometimes.  She's very weird.  I worry about being like her sometimes, but then I remind myself that I was raised by a wonderful stepmother, so I might turn out OK.

 

 

 

Valerie120408

Sorry your mom is being difficult. I understand why she's worried but if it's not dangerous (I don't know anything about shingles) then I hope she gets over it and you get to spend Thanksgiving with your grandma

Mystery2B

I'd tell your mother that she is the one that can't come. Haven't you all had chicken pox already anyway? And she's only contagious if you come in contact with the rash - if she keeps it covered you're not going to catch anything.