How do aging parents fit into the mix? Just when you think things are good. Bang. Your parents are old and on the obvious decline. The people you have relied on as your safety net your whole life are now leaning on you for decisions and direction. All I can think about is how little time I do have. I am busy finding my passion and purpose, trying to implement an exercise routine, creating a balanced lifestyle and raising two “perfect” children. However, I am the only one that can help unconditionally and for free. I can see why so many people face a “mid-life” crisis while in their forties. It’s that period in your life where the new and the old truly intersect for a relatively short period of time. It’s really the first time you witness this intersection first hand. The pendulum swings and balance of power shifts.
I suppose you could look at it from the positive point of view that you still have parents alive to even face this problem. In my case I feel like it is way too soon and I am unprepared. I am reading the book Just Let Me Lie Down by Kristin van Ogtrop. Hilarious. So many parts of this book could have come right from my own life. Anyway there is a section that describes the unmilestones. It’s the moments with your children that pass and you never really know it is a milestone moment until much later. It suggests that if you had known at that time how things would change you would have been more present at that moment. I read that and thought of my children; however, I thought more about my parents. It rings so true for them also. Moments that I took for granted with my mother have passed and I will never experience anything similar again. If I had only known at the time that it would be the last, what would I have done differently? I think I need to ponder this for some time.
I will come back to this subject at a later date. However, my take away from this is to focus on actually being present in the moment happening right now. You truly don’t know what tomorrow brings. Have no regrets. This is reminding me of some old cross-country motivational quotes…
Good night.
Mom In Transition 
I came across your post and it hit me hard. We laid my MIL to rest one week ago, my FIL is battling bone cancer and my mom was diagnosed with blood cancer this post Monday. My world has been rocked. I’m 45 and daily I think, I can’t be old enough for all this and what will I do when I can’t pick up the phone and ask her a question. My faith will give me the strength, comfort and guidance and I will treasure every unmilestone as they are gold.
Thank you for your message. I am so sorry to hear this news. I suppose somehow we just need to find something good in each and every day. It definitely helps to write it down and know that you are not alone. One day at a time.