The next generation

To the mom at B&N:

Your 4-year-old daughter is selfish, self-centered, and doesn't care to share the train set with the 15 month old and 2 year old children who are so desperately trying to play with just one small portion of the entire set.

While you were on your cell phone, your daughter was attempting to plow over both children because they were standing in the way, playing with their small corner of the set that she would allow them to, as she made her way around the entire train table.

While you were on your cell phone, your daughter got a lesson from me in kindness, sharing, empathy, patience, tolerance of others, especially children younger than her.

While you were on your cell phone, I pitied you and found you self-centered, selfish, and empty.

While you were on your cell phone, your daughter grew up to be selfish, self-centered, and empty - just like you.

I have no idea...

So, my 82-year-old mom-in-law fell a few weeks ago and broke her collar bone, knee cap and sustained a compression fracture in her back. She has needed round the clock care since. Given she had 9 children, the girls in the family are voluteering to take care of her. This has caused serious infighting amongst the girls and has worn them out...the infighting is the most disturbing. What is the solution? I voted for getting a night nurse a few nights a week to give everyone a break. My mom-in-law refuses this saying she doesn't want a stranger in her house. Ya, okay, I understand this to some extent. HOWEVER, she has seen as of late the strain and stress this is causing amongst the siblings, so you would think she would be willing to give up a few nights of familiarity to a nurse who is better qualified to take care of her. But no...

My heart goes out to the entire family. The infighting is ridiculous...you read the emails and think that these people are younger than 10 years old, rather than in their 50s. Their focus has gone from taking care of their aging mother to who is doing the best job and who can't be trusted with the care of their mother. Some of their points may be valid, to which I again say get a fucking night nurse people...someone stand up to the plate and say "mom, we want what is best for you and right now a night nurse would be better qualified to take care of you than we are." I have said my two cents, and essentially need to back out at this point...I am only the in-law, which implies my influence is quite limited.