“Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.” – Chili Davis… As mothers, we’re used to taking care of people. For many of us, it even started as little girls – rocking your baby dolls to sleep at night, brushing their hair and dressing them, giving them pretend bottles to drink. Later on, we pretended to cook dinner for them in our play kitchens, pushed them in tiny toy strollers, and {if you were like me} learned how to discipline by bossing little brothers around. I mean, sure, I bucked the trends and also worked on trucks at the family business with my dad, and loved fishing and camping and playing in the mud. But I’m sure that most women can remember those days of care-taking for our dolls. Then we have babies, and realize quickly that, for awhile at least, their needs really do have to take a priority. And that is something that we’re prepared for. But what about as time passes, and it’s our parents who need to be taken care of? That’s something that can come as a shock. I know from experience that it can be a really stressful situation to deal with – but by discussing it with them now, and by doing some planning in your own family and budget, you can relieve some of the strain and uncertainty.

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