Prue’s mother was proving difficult. “Mum, self-care is the most appropriate place for you.”
“I’ll stay here if I have to self-care. I want help.”
“But Mum in self-care you get help. Meals are provided, cleaning done, bed linen changed and washed plus you can opt for more services.”
“Then why call it self-care. More like aided living.”
“Self -care is because you remain independent. You don’t need nursing. Aided living is a nursing home.”
“Send me to a nursing home. I’ve had looking after myself.”
“I know Mum. How about going to ‘Care… for the Self?”
“Sounds good.”
In response to Charli’s prompt where she asks:
November 30, 2017 prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story that includes self-care. Does the character need it? What does the character do? Think about how you can use this action to deepen a character or move a story. Go where the prompt leads.
Respond by December 7, 2017 to be included in the compilation (published December 8). Rules are here. All writers are welcome!
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About Irene Waters 19 Writer Memoirist
I began my working career as a reluctant potato peeler whilst waiting to commence my training as a student nurse. On completion I worked mainly in intensive care/coronary care; finishing my hospital career as clinical nurse educator in intensive care. A life changing period as a resort owner/manager on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu was followed by recovery time as a farmer at Bucca Wauka. Having discovered I was no farmer and vowing never again to own an animal bigger than myself I took on the Barrington General Store. Here we also ran a five star restaurant. Working the shop of a day 7am - 6pm followed by the restaurant until late was surprisingly more stressful than Tanna. On the sale we decided to retire and renovate our house with the help of a builder friend. Now believing we knew everything about building we set to constructing our own house. Just finished a coal mine decided to set up in our backyard. Definitely time to retire we moved to Queensland. I had been writing a manuscript for some time. In the desire to complete this I enrolled in a post grad certificate in creative Industries which I completed 2013. I followed this by doing a Master of Arts by research graduating in 2017. Now I live to write and write to live.
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
And this is when they’re reasonable.
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I was very lucky. I didn’t even have this much trouble. I’m guessing you had a lot more. It is such a difficult time as one gets to this stage as you and i both know. At least we both have a lot of love to give.
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ha, that sounds like my mother’s logic…
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Haha. And as a lawyer Geoff I’m sure you’d come up with a persuasive argument.
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It’s all in the words we use. Funny how difficult it can be to find the right words in some circumstances.
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It is a matter of communication in finding words that have the same meaning to those involved in the conversation. Sometimes it is very difficult.
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So many times we can use the same words but mean different things entirely. 🙂
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Especially in English.
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Especially!
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it’s all in finding the right words. I’m storing this one away for someone else who’s hard to convince!
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Yes it is finding the right words. I was lucky – I did but my Mum was happy to have the responsibility for daily living decreased. I hope when the time arrives Liz you too find the right words.
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Thanks!
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Independence and self-care can be at odds at certain ages — 2 and 82. Great use of dialog in your flash, Irene!
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Thanks Charli. It is as though we go full circle.
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Hah, you captured the contradictions of care service nomenclature perfectly. No wonder people get confused!
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Thanks Anne. Imagine how it must be for someone whose first language is other than English – when it confuses those of us whose first language it is.
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So close to home this one. MIL passed a few years back, but was independent in her own studio with some aide for years… live close to 90. Wasn’t until the last month she stopped getting the daily paper.
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Wonderful that she had such a long good life. My Mum is 6 months off 90 and is the same. The paper though now takes her much longer to read.
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