Grace and Favor

For some reason, Mom takes out her rehab frustrations on me.  Ginny, Cathy and Mary Pat get a pass, although in MP's case, she lives and works in Dutchess County, NY, so it's probably a case of absence makes the Elizabethan Heart grow fonder.  Anyhow, my dear Mother was quite a brat yesterday, but let me set the scene.

Mom had a new aide in the morning.  She and the aide had a bit of a tiff over getting Mom dressed.  In this case, I can sympathize with the aide, because Mom can be quite maddening to dress.  I have, many times, picked out a perfectly good outfit, only to be told "I'm not wearing that".  Either the colors are wrong, or there is a small spot.  My instince tells me Mom was her usual unhelpful self.

So, when I arrive after lunch , Mom is tired from three hours of rehab, and still sulking about the aide.  The first thing she whispers to me is "would you please change my diaper?  It's clean, but it's not clean".  So, I told her 'No.  I could do this at home, but not at the rehab center.  Do you want me to take you to the main room?'  Mom said , whispering again because her new roomate is a Minister, 'you are such a little bitch".  Then, HM takes the footrests on her wheelchair, raising them to a 180 degree angle, so I can't get her wheelchair past her roomate's walker, and wheelchair.

Knowing I was licked, I went and got the head nurse, who said that since Mom's diaper was soiled ( she confessed to him) she had to be changed in the room.  So, the aide came, changed and cleaned Her Majesty, then I took her out to the garden where her mood improved by watching the sparrows eat her unsalted saltines.