Life never stays boring for long.  If it’s not one thing, it’s another.

For the past 10 years, we have been trying to figure out our next move; are we going to stay in the house where we raised our kids, or are we going to sell and head on to new adventures.  We have talked about moving for years; we tossed around Texas, Tennessee, Arizona (so briefly it’s barely a footnote) and Florida.  We have never really taken the time to scout locations because we were still raising kids.

Well, the kids are (almost) raised, one is still at home and the other isn’t far away.  But life decided to remind us that we aren’t always in control of our lives.  In the past 5 years our parents have started needing us more.  Initially it was my mom (Dad passed in 2000), but mom was near us and starting to have some health issues.  Toward the end of her life, I was getting regular calls for this or that including but not limited to, “I have fallen and I can’t get up”.  (Something you see in commercials but never realize that one day you WILL get that call).  Thankfully, we are less than 2 miles away, so it was a quick recovery.  But when she passed, I can’t lie … I had a sense of peace that I won’t have to wait for those calls anymore.  I was getting worried about her living alone, but being the stubborn Irish “Wootch” (my grandpa called her), she wouldn’t leave her house.  It was a weird feeling losing her, but also thankful she didn’t suffer long.

We discussed moving further, but my husband said that he won’t leave until his parents are gone.  And, it’s a good thing he felt that way because the last year both of his parents (divorced, separate cities) have taken downward turns and it’s a constant monitoring on the weekly to see how they are getting along.  In fine fashion of stubborn adults, neither will leave their house for assisted care, so here we are living the Sandwich generation lifestyle; still taking care of the kids while caring for the parents.  And though the duties are light at this time, I still find myself meal prepping for one and trying to force prepared meals on the other.

For over 20 years after my dad passed, my husband would check in with my mom and make sure Nana had food.  He would ask me regularly, “Does your mom have food?”.  In all honesty, she was fine eating frozen meals from the store, but my husband being the foodie, this was not acceptable so he made sure to have her stocked on the regular.  One thing I loved about my mom is she was always so grateful to have whatever we brought and never made a fuss.  Her parents were from the Depression era and my mom learned to never waste food, “Waste not want not” and “Could I get a doggy box” were two sentences we heard ALL THE TIME!!!  On Sundays when she would come over for dinner if the girls didn’t finish their food, they new to scrape it onto my moms plate so she could take it home.  Some might think, “Gross”, but to be honest, I did (sort of) love that about my mom.  She was predictable.  I dare say, I still have moments when I’m getting ready to toss leftovers I think to bring them to mom and remember she’s no longer here.

Now that we are cooking for Chris’ parents it’s a little more frustrating because one is too stubborn to accept the meals and the other has such a picky and bland palette that we have to get clearance before we prepare meals.  I asked Chris one day, “You miss my mom, don’t you?”  She was so easy…

In truth, I don’t mind preparing food for his parents.  His mom eats along the lines of what I cook; where Chris is more complex with a ton more flavors and spices.  So it gives me the ability to dust off my cooking skills and get creative.  I’m more the baker in the house, but the main dishes I usually make are comfort foods; Chicken and Dumplings, Enchiladas, breakfast burritos… The throw them together dishes if you will.

Chris and I can’t be in the kitchen at the same time.  We both get in the zone and don’t want to be bothered.  So this morning, I got up early and got started and have already made Sour Cream Coffee Cakes (mini for easy distribution) and breakfast burritos.  I still have broccoli cheddar soup to make so I can deliver to Aspen as well.  She’s living on her own and fends just fine for herself, but who doesn’t love a little home cooking from Mom?

I often think back to when I was a kid.  I couldn’t wait to grow up and be an adult so I could do what I want.  Well…jokes on me.  Something in life always dictates what happens next and we aren’t always in control.  If you don’t learn to roll with the punches, you are going to suffocate in resentment and anger.

In all of this, I am grateful for a few things; that our parents have always been there for us; that we have a good relationship with the parents, and finally that we can be there for them in their times of need.  Some call it giving back… we call it Family!!