The Reluctant Carer

I care for my husband who has Huntington's Disease. I'm new to this caring or 'uncaring' and I'm struggling. In being honest about this, maybe other carers will feel less guilty and less alone.

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Mantra for Birthdays

I carefully place Honey's new bike in the hallway,so that he's surprised when he comes down for breakfast. Roo trips on it, displacing the saddle. Another job for the tool-kit.
I must not kill Roo on Honey's birthday

Roo has eaten Arsey's Easter Egg.
I must not kill Roo on Honey's birthday

Roo tells Honey that the gears cannot be used off-road, which of course they can. Honey is very disappointed.
I must not kill Roo on Honey's birthday

Roo tells Honey that he can only use 1st gear
I must not kill Roo on Honey's birthday

Roo tells Honey that he must hold the guitar upside down, and strum with his left hand.
I must not kill Roo on Honey's birthday

Roo spills the coffee....and insists on clearing it up with a soggy t-shirt.
I must not kill Roo on Honey's birthday

The cat's sick on the bed (ok, so that's not Roo's fault, but by this point in the day, he is to blame for everything).
I must not kill Roo on Honey's birthday

Roo tells the neighbours that I won't have sex with him. They are elderly and shocked (not sure if they're more shocked by his disinhibition, or the fact that I don't give him what he wants).
I must not kill Roo on Honey's birthday

Roo pushes Sweet-Pea on the swing, but he pushes her so hard that she flies off the swing, and lands on her bum.
I must not kill Roo on Honey's birthday

Roo follows me around whilst I make the birthday tea. There is a near miss with the candles.
I must kill Roo on Honey's birthday

posted by Dee @ 8:06 AM  

9 Comments:

  • At 8:54 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Dee -

    You are my hero...

    :0)

     

  • At 8:14 AM, Anonymous stanne said…

    I'll second anoymous's comment

     

  • At 3:16 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Thank you, Dee, for giving us all a little laugh today.

     

  • At 11:09 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Bravo Dee, You made it thru without going to jail. I can't tell you how much you help lighten a heavy load.

     

  • At 1:49 PM, Anonymous lisa brough said…

    Dee,
    you are so funny. My husband has Huntington's and no one understands this disease except someone else in the same circumstance. You have helped my sister in law to cope with her HD husband. We relocated to NC and a week after we moved in, while the neighbors were still peering out their windows to get a glimpse of us, I asked Alec to retreave a book I had left in the house and bring it out to the car. He "skipped" across the lawn and with a flourish extended his hand with the book. the sight of a 47 year old man skipping was very interestingg for the neighbors and my teenagers were horrified. I could feel the thump of my 14yr old daughters head on the back of my seat and the "we are never going to have any friends" whispered under her breath. Alec used to dance with the ballet so we are often treated to these happy expressions of his former life. Keep on laughing, otherwise we may die crying...

    lisa

     

  • At 10:10 PM, Anonymous stanne said…

    Dear Lisa,
    Your final thought kept me going today. It is so importantant to keep a sense of humour and a sense of proportion in the face of adversity.
    Keep on smiling
    stanne

     

  • At 10:20 PM, Blogger Trish Munn said…

    Hi Dee,
    Bravo! My husband is phd, and in our house everything is usually my fault! Thank you for the smile. I needed it today!
    -Trish

     

  • At 7:23 AM, Anonymous stanne said…

    Dee...I've just re-read your original post....hope the last line has a word missing??!!

     

  • At 7:48 AM, Blogger Dee said…

    Thank you guys for all your lovely comments. They really helped me through a tough patch. Your story Lisa made me laugh, although I like skipping too and I don't have the excuse of HD

    x

     

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