Attitude Adjustment

After Mom broke her hip, she needed someone to stay with her day and night. I moved in to make sure she had her
meals, pills and did the physiotherapy. Every morning before I got her out of bed, I would get her to do the exercises, something we both hated. She didn’t want to do them and all the coaxing exhausted me.

“C’mon, Mom,” I’d say. “You need to lift that leg to a 45-degree angle.”

One morning she exploded. “Stop bossing me. I’m the mother! And what’s this about angles?!”

I turned away from her and walked toward the window. Oh God, I silently prayed, this will never work! Seven flights down in the park, I could see children playing flag football. I could see the coach waving his arms and pointing and then a child running in that direction. I took a deep breath and turned back to Mom.

“Mom, I’m not bossing you, I’m your coach. This is the bed,” I said holding my palm flat. “This is a 45-degree angle.” I demonstrated with the other palm on top.

She smiled. “I see. Well, Coach, let’s get this done before breakfast!” I smiled back. A simple change in our attitudes had made all the difference.