Yesterday, on my 2 hour break from caregiving, I did a Target run. While there, I picked up some turkey and chicken breast for MIL's sandwiches. She's a picky eater and I knew she would like these. While in line, a shopper 2 people in front of me is having a problem. The person in front of me leaves and I social distance from the problem shopper. Now the person behind me instructs me to put my stuff on the conveyor belt to "get the checker to get moving" (her words). I saw that the problem was coming to an end so I put my stuff up. As the checker is scanning my stuff, the person behind me sees the lunchmeat and starts in on me "Do you know how much salt is in those!" I look at her and say "I don't care. She'll eat it" I turn back to the checker. Now noisy Karen, "Well, I hope she doesn't have a heart attack and end up on life support!" I've about had it as I said this is my 2 hour window of contentment. I look her square in the face and reply "That's not happening! She has a DNR! And if you would like to take care of her 24/7, you're more than welcome!" She looked at me and stood back. Bye, Karen!
And before anyone else gets in on me, when we got MIL last year from her "living" situation, she was being starved to death. She has put on 50 pounds, get her meds as she should, has clean clothes and bed to sleep in, is taken out weekly to dinner. I don't think a little lunchmeat is doing any harm.
Meanwhile, I only get 4 hours off a week, have given up all my freetime and let's not even talk about romance.
Sorry for the rant but I know you all would understand.
Have a nice day! LOL!
Your story is different but reminds me of a situation one of my Mom's aides told me about. She actually got into a physical altercation in the checkout line of a supermarket when the woman in front of her claimed she'd shoved her cart into her back. That led to shouting and both women actually shoving the cart back and forth into each other. I'm glad your experience didn't escalate to something like that.
We all need to be made aware that what we say and do can unintentionally be hurtful to others sometimes. Thank you to Rick10 for pointing out the use of the name "Karen" in such an insulting way. As you can see by my screen name my name is Karen. Ironically, considering the current negative connotation of "Karen" my middle name is Joy. It's gotten to the point where I'm embarrassed to tell people my name. It hurts a little every time I hear my name used like that. Even my husband asked me yesterday if he should call me "Joy" in public. It helps, though for me to remember that when I told my Dad many years ago that I never much liked my name he responded that when I was born he and Mom loved me so much that they named me "Care and Joy" (Karen Joy).
Here’s hoping that today is a better day!
You’re awesome for what you are doing!!!
I'm at the place with my husband (prognosis in the spring was no more than two years left to live) that food is not going to be one of the battles I choose. If he wants to eat those salty steamed crabs and deal with the results the following week, that's his choice.
My 90yo father eats turkey lunchmeat all the time. He'll probably outlive my husband.
Fyi I was giving my Dad as much cheese as possible during his last months. Mom kept feeding him what was good for her, not him, and he was getting so super skinny. Didn’t like to eat but boy he loved enchiladas. He died of cancer and if his cholesterol edged up those last 6 months then so be it!
Cheers to you!
People have no manners. Your response was great!
My mom won't eat rice or noodles--it throws her off her whole meal and she'll just push everything on her plate around...'I'm not that hungry''. BUT...will eat spaghetti. It took me a while to figure that one out.
Whatever it takes so that they eat, right? The last thing a caregiver needs is a food battle.
Fun Fact: My co-workers asked a nephrologist what the actual cooking equivalent of the adult daily requirement for sodium was, and he told us it was about a teaspoon.
So unless you're dredging those chicken and turkey slices in salt before making that sandwich I'm thinking Karen doesn't need to worry. LOL!