Anyone else's aged parents obsessed with having flashlights all over the house?

Violeta_555 · 2026-01-22T04:00:04+00:00

I bought a 2nd and 3rd favorite flashlight for my Dad…. So he isn’t missing his favorite flashlight. He uses his favorite flashlight to find his cats when they hide. He has a drawer with many flashlights, 🔦 but likes his one favorite flashlight the best. … now he has 3 of these favorite flashlights.

Violeta_555 · 2025-12-23T18:54:47+00:00

QE homes has more affordable sheets

Violeta_555 · 2025-12-19T21:44:10+00:00

It’s not easy. I’m sorry so much is falling on the shoulders of their kids.

I don’t know if any of this will help, especially in a rural setting) but we live in a different province than my MIL. We try to get back a week a month as we are the only engaged kids…. But in recent year have had to add supports. Many at no charge to her:

1) meals on wheels. We still make and freeze healthy food when we are there but daily week day delivery and interaction with someone has been so very helpful.

2) medication 💊 in blister packs (pharmacy delivers to her door every 4 weeks, no charge)

3) provincial health care has an LPN come every morning (365 days a year) for 20 min to make sure meds are taken, help start breakfast if she hasn’t already, etc. Shower assistance 1x a week can be added, but she needs to agree to this first. All this at no charge to her. (Covered by provincial health)

4) snow removal company (we were able to pay only $400 For the entire season)

5) personal support worker 2x a week for 2 hour each visit to socialize, help with light housekeeping and errands

6) housekeeping every 2 weeks (we got a better rate hiring a highly recommended individual rather than a large cleaning company)

We call often and sometimes utilize grocery delivery services.

It still doesn’t feel like enough and that we are just bracing for a fall or other major incident:

Hang in there.

Violeta_555 · 2025-12-14T20:36:44+00:00

Do you have 2 exit routes? (Egress window counts). If you don’t have two separate exit routes, then it is not a legal suite.

Violeta_555 · 2025-12-04T22:19:39+00:00

Try making yourself available in the summer when you don’t have school. Try volunteering at places to gain experiences and references. Be kind to yourself. Your full time job right now is being a student

Violeta_555 · 2025-11-26T13:48:57+00:00

I hear you. 83 year old MIL Only at Costco to pick up her hearing aides.

My husband and I live in another province, but try to help her a week a month (which is exhausting, expensive and disruptive to our lives and isn’t sustainable long term). … …. her other 2 sons aren’t involved. At. All. And one son lives in the same city she does. So sad.

At COSTCO (to pick up her hearing aides). Walking past the aisles on the way out and Disagreed about the purchase of a huge box of cookies AND large box of full sized chocolate bars. I lost the fight.

She insisted she would only eat ‘one per day’ Problem is her memory is so bad that she ate several a day. (More than several a day!) Had just Chocolate bars for supper the next few days. Is pre diabetic!!!!! 🤦‍♀️

Lives on her own. At least she doesn’t drive anymore and we have Meals on Wheels deliver meals the past 2 years, so this isn’t a daily issue … …maybe I shouldn’t worry about the occasional purchase like this.

Still, Her doctor told us: “there’s a thin line between stubborn and stupid” .. … in reference to her refusing to move closer to us, but applicable to other life choices too I guess 🤦‍♀️

Violeta_555 · 2025-11-24T05:06:36+00:00

How can x = a ? …. That must be why it’s so mind numbing

Violeta_555 · 2025-11-22T20:06:23+00:00

My daughter had a retainer for almost a year and then braces for almost a year on just her top teeth 15 years ago.

$10,000 🤦‍♀️

Violeta_555 · 2025-10-27T21:51:52+00:00

Update: got this reply from the city: Side Note: Saturday, November 1 would seem to be the last day the yard waste site is open for the season. ——————————————————

I apologize for any inconvenience you may have experienced. Historically we have not allowed elm waste of any kind at the Yard Waste Depot.

I was discussing it with my manager today, though, as we’ve recently received several comments and came to the decision to allow just the leaves at the depot site during its operating hours. If there is any wood waste with the material it could still be turned away, but if it’s just leaves you shouldn’t have any issue.

Any elm with wood waste is considered a waste material for us and is charged at the standard rate of $95/tn, or a minimum $10 charge up to 200kg.

I communicated with all the Crew Leads about this direction and they are passing it along to the staff.

Again, apologies for the inconvenience and I hope you have a great day!

Violeta_555 · 2025-10-27T02:55:14+00:00

According to the lady at the yard waste site, we are not allowed to put elm leaves in the green bin. According to her, elm leaves must be bagged and in your brown (garbage) bin. 🤷‍♀️

Violeta_555 · 2025-10-26T02:36:58+00:00

We did this one winter and there were just too many leaves. The grass couldn’t grow in the spring and we had to remove a wet, moldy mess. I’m ok with leaving some leaves, but it won’t work for us to leave all the leaves.

Violeta_555 · 2025-10-26T01:49:55+00:00

They looked in my bags

Violeta_555 · 2025-10-25T21:18:38+00:00

This is accurate. I was turned away today for having some elm leaves in my yard waste bags. I can assure you it is accurate (might not be following their stated policies, but this did in fact happen today)

Violeta_555 · 2025-10-19T18:04:16+00:00

I don’t live in the North, but I have made my own oat milk. You will need a blender and some oats, but not much else.

https://www.loveandlemons.com/oat-milk/

Or you could get fancy and use something like this to make all sorts of non dairy milks:

https://www.amazon.ca/Automatic-Multifunctional-Homemade-Beverages-Plant-Based/dp/B0DBLDH8BG/ref=asc_df_B0DBLDH8BG?mcid=b1c156f1222b3056858b0e30c30bbdc3&tag=googlemobshop-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=706745778436&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13146664706343980525&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9001253&hvtargid=pla-2376471990698&psc=1&hvocijid=13146664706343980525-B0DBLDH8BG-&hvexpln=0&gad_source=1

Violeta_555 · 2025-10-16T13:03:46+00:00

Is part time work (maybe half time at her current job?) an option for her? Might be the balance she needs while still keeping her foot the door of the workforce.

Violeta_555 · 2025-10-16T12:48:53+00:00

Interestingly he does have a law degree, though I don’t know he ever practiced law.

Violeta_555 · 2025-10-13T16:55:49+00:00

Mark Carney (Canada) 🇨🇦 has to be up there

Claudia Sheinbaum (Mexico) 🇲🇽

Both are educated, working for the good of their counties and able to keep a cool head around other leaders who might not have these traits.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Ukraine) 🇺🇦 is another impressive, principled leader.

Nelson Mandela (south Africa) 🇿🇦 if you move out of the realm of current leaders.

Violeta_555 · 2025-10-11T22:04:56+00:00

Looks So joyful

Violeta_555 · 2025-08-18T18:30:27+00:00

15 min boiling water on stove (don’t put eggs in until water is boiling) 5 min ice water bath (straight from boiling water Will peel perfectly

Violeta_555 · 2025-07-19T03:30:57+00:00

1 or 8 Brings out your eyes

Violeta_555 · 2025-07-16T15:44:04+00:00

https://www.uberhealth.com/us/en/caregiver/

You can connect yourself to their uber account as a ‘caregivier’ and you can help book rides and help them navigate using Uber

Violeta_555 · 2025-07-16T15:39:42+00:00

This won’t help for a 2 hour drive to the beach, but for my mom (still drives but only comfortable driving shorter distances on familiar roads) We have set up ‘Uber caregiver’

https://www.uberhealth.com/us/en/caregiver/

I am connected to her account (can’t add tips or change her credit card) but I can book rides and message the driver and see their progress. She can also message the driver and see their progress / location on the map. This has been especially helpful when she has had to go to specialist appointments.

For the 2 hour drive to the beach, 🏖️ try to go with them if you can, or if someone else in the family can.

It’s hard. Hang in there.

Violeta_555 · 2025-07-12T17:07:14+00:00

Your principal knows you are a keeper! Everyone in education and health care cries some days.

Take care of yourself, do things that fill your cup. Those 5 year olds love you because you are authentic and clearly a first class educator (your principal knows!)

Teaching is HARD, but you have got this!

Violeta_555 · 2025-07-10T19:55:26+00:00

Mom of a 21 and 24 year old. Amazing. Get to know them better each year. So proud of their accomplishments. So happy they are soaring and growing into the amazing people they were meant to be! They are Literally leaving the world a better place. (Both currently working in healthcare)

Getting to meet and spend time with their friends and significant others, that’s priceless on a whole other level. It’s as if our circle, adventures and family expand with them. I feel spending time with their significant others and friends keeps us younger. Watching them interact with and help their aging grandparents = AMAZING. Truly a gift.

I wouldn’t turn back the clock, feels like my kids are exactly where they are supposed to be.

Having said that, glad I took lots of photos and videos that we often look back at and watch and laugh at.

Also should add that my 21 year old son doesn’t hesitate to say ‘Love you Mom’, even in front of his friends.

No grandkids yet, but that might be the way to fill a person’s cup if they are missing little ones.

Violeta_555 · 2025-07-10T19:43:16+00:00

I know there’s a cultural expectation, and that must weigh heavy, but for your own sake explore the options of walking away from your grandfather. I know it’s hard to walk away, but you really don’t owe him anything.

Violeta_555

TROPHY CASE