December 2004 Ensign - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day ...
December 2004 Ensign - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day ...
December 2004 Ensign - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day ...
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42<br />
QUESTIONS ANSWERS<br />
Question<br />
I am an elderly woman, and due to my fragile health,<br />
I recently came to live with my daughter and her family.<br />
It has been difficult to leave behind my friends,<br />
my home, and especially my independence. I know<br />
it hasn’t been easy for my daughter’s family either.<br />
What can we do to make the change easier for all <strong>of</strong> us?<br />
Tips for Those Moving In with Family<br />
When at age 82 I moved in with my<br />
daughter and her husband, I made a<br />
conscious decision that I would not<br />
mourn, that I would accept the decision<br />
cheerfully, and that I would look<br />
forward to new adventures.<br />
I discovered that many <strong>of</strong> my “precious<br />
things” were just stuff, and as I<br />
unloaded them, I felt a freedom that<br />
was wonderful. I sold my home and<br />
thought <strong>of</strong> all the freedom from<br />
upkeep and repairs. A burden was<br />
lifted <strong>of</strong>f my shoulders.<br />
I now keep busy by writing letters<br />
and working on my autobiography. I<br />
sort and place my photographs in<br />
albums. I go for walks. I subscribe to<br />
several good magazines. I invite<br />
friends to drop by. I teach the<br />
Beehives in the Young Women organization,<br />
and my daughter and I are<br />
visiting teaching companions.<br />
It is important for me to feel<br />
useful around the house. I help make<br />
lunch and prepare dinner most<br />
evenings. Other tasks I help with<br />
include doing the laundry, folding<br />
clothes, watering houseplants, and<br />
dusting furniture.<br />
Dorothy L. Clark, Rainier Ward, Rainier<br />
Oregon Stake<br />
One advantage to growing older<br />
is that your pool <strong>of</strong> people to love<br />
grows larger. Keep in touch with the<br />
old friends you left behind by writing<br />
letters, making phone calls, and planning<br />
visits. Make new friends in your<br />
daughter’s neighborhood. If there is<br />
a senior citizens’ center nearby, take<br />
advantage <strong>of</strong> it. However, do not limit<br />
yourself to the elderly. Many young<br />
people find great satisfaction in associating<br />
with those who are the age <strong>of</strong><br />
their grandparents and great-grandparents.<br />
Another advantage to aging is that<br />
you continue to amass memories to<br />
Meaningful hobbies can help make<br />
life rich and interesting.<br />
cherish. Your home you left behind<br />
is probably not the first one you have<br />
moved from. Each home from your<br />
past can become a memory to hold<br />
dear.<br />
Colleen Young Staker, Jordan North Fourth<br />
Ward, Salt Lake Jordan North Stake<br />
We cared for my mother-in-law for<br />
almost a year before her death. <strong>The</strong>se<br />
are the things I appreciated most<br />
about her: She was never bossy or<br />
demanding with our children or me.<br />
With five children there, our home<br />
got noisy and crazy sometimes, but<br />
she was slow to correct or complain.