We've Created a Monster
By Morley Hunt
@Morleyhunt (21741)
Canada
January 6, 2016 4:50am CST
We have acquired a permanent house guest. Now we need to train him.
Please don't get your knickers in a twist, I love my father, but need to laugh about some of the changes our household has experienced.
First, we have always (and I mean always) had a strict rule about the toilet seat. It is to be down when the men leave the bathroom. He didn't get the memo.
Laundry, pockets must be emptied before tossing your clothes in the hamper. The amount of facial tissue I have laundered since he moved in is impressive. That first load took an extra washing, just to remove the bits of tissue.
The one that really causes me dismay, is my husbands fault.
Our normal routine has the two of us enjoying a drink before going to bed. The first few weeks of having a house guest, he went to bed early, and we had an hour to ourselves.
One night, my husband offered him a drink, a small glass of Advocaat. He was in heaven. Now he waits to be offered a drink. If we don't offer him one, he asks, "Where is mine?"
Gone are the days of an hour of 'our time' before bed. I think we need a date night.
15 people like this
13 responses
@CookieMonster46 (13453)
• United States
7 Jan 16
True,it can be hard living with someone after not living with them for a long time. You are used to doing your thing and then a house guest comes along.
2 people like this
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
7 Jan 16
@CookieMonster46 a house guest who is old and frail, and is your father.
2 people like this
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
6 Jan 16
We had my mother in law living in our home for four years almost fifteen years ago. She had a much clearer view of boundaries.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502491)
• Italy
7 Jan 16
@Morleyhunt Now that you mention the morning, I remember that it was the only quiet moment, Grandmother was the last to wake up in the morning.
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
7 Jan 16
We still get to enjoy a quiet coffee in the morning. If I go out during the day, he always wants to tag along.
2 people like this
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
7 Jan 16
@LadyDuck it is reassuring to hear him get up to use the washroom (I know he's still with us) then I pray he goes back to bed for a few more hours.
1 person likes this
@slund2041 (3314)
• United States
6 Jan 16
I understand how frustrating that can be. My husband and I have similar routines, and they get interrupted often. I do not want to tell this person, as it would hurt his feelings.
2 people like this
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
7 Jan 16
We are treading carefully. His health is precarious, we don't know how long we'll have him with us. We certainly don't want to hurt his feelings.
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85923)
• Valdosta, Georgia
6 Jan 16
Lol I hope you can find a way to get your time back again. =)
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
7 Jan 16
@JudyEv now that the insanity of Christmas is behind us, I'm trying to get him involved in some senior programming.
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
7 Jan 16
Today I escaped to the bank for 15 minutes. Then he accompanied me to the grocery store. I WANT TO GO ALONE. It was worse tha shopping with a toddler.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382115)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Jan 16
@Morleyhunt Some of our bigger centres have day centres for older adults - like child care but for oldies. Some just go for an hour or two occasionally but it does give the care-giver a break. Is there anything like that near you?
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
6 Jan 16
Number 3 is the most serious I think, loosing your little piece of privacy and 'us' time. Though tissues in the laundry, grrrr. I have never trained my husband to do that one. lol
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
8 Jan 16
@Morleyhunt No I know exactly what that is like lol
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
7 Jan 16
He is getting better about emptying his pockets. I am also remembering to check them. We don't want a repeat of the Kleenex episode.
1 person likes this
@righttotheheart (226)
• Delhi, India
6 Jan 16
I think you should tell him everything directly that he is just a house guest not your family member and that he should maintain some distance and give you guys some privacy..
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
6 Jan 16
There are some things that he would be upset by. Telling him that he should maintain some distance and give us our privacy would be a slap in the face. Instead, I will write the occasional amusing post and have a regular date night.
2 people like this
@righttotheheart (226)
• Delhi, India
7 Jan 16
@Morleyhunt yes that would help you better
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
6 Jan 16
I live with my grandparents and uncle. My grandmother and I have solved the "toilet seat" debacle by having separate bathrooms. The men have theirs and the women ours. 
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
6 Jan 16
Too bad this small house has only one bathroom. I'm quickly learning to check before I sit, lol
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
6 Jan 16
We've learned to laugh about it. After forty years of marriage we will get through this.we still have our 5:30 AM coffee alone. ;)
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
7 Jan 16
That has brought about some real changes. A date night is a great idea.
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
7 Jan 16
Its a good thing I'm flexible. For a few weeks, every day brought new changes.
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
7 Jan 16
Nice idea. Not practical. One small drink a day is his limit, for health reasons.
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
7 Jan 16
That is the constant challenge. Finding a balance.
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
6 Jan 16
You do realize that I feel for my father. Sometimes having a laugh where it won't hurt him helps me stay sane.
1 person likes this
