Refereeing Fights between Mom and Dad
If both your parents need your help with caregiving, you may face
the added challenge of handling friction in your parents’
relationship. An aging couple may not get along for many reasons,
and their so-called golden years of marriage may seem to be anything
but that. The sad truth is that divorce is not unheard of among
couples whose children have grown up and moved away. While a
youngster can do little, if anything, to stop a fight between his or
her parents, an adult child may feel an obligation to step forward.
Here are some points to consider if you find yourself in that
position:
--They are two different people. Parents are not a
single unit. Your mother and father are two individuals who may be
at two different points in their lives. Each is dealing with his or
her own losses, concerns about what is happening, worries about
health, and so on.
--The dynamics of the relationship are changing. One
parent may be becoming more dependent on the other, a development
each finds frustrating and frightening. Maybe Dad was always the
strong provider and guardian. Now Mom must assume those roles. Maybe
Mom did the cooking, the cleaning, the shopping, the laundry. She
balanced the checkbook and sent out the Christmas cards. Now Dad is
learning those jobs. This change of roles is hard on any two people
of any age.
--There’s a history here. Maybe Mom and Dad’s
relationship has always been confrontational. Some couples bicker
throughout their married lives.
--A personality change could be a symptom of a health
problem. Alzheimer’s disease, a stroke, or another medical
condition may change Mom or Dad from meek and mild to combative and
aggressive. Talk to your family doctor about this.
--A woman’s role in society has changed. In years past,
a woman was a housewife who took care of the children, managed the
family home, and followed her husband’s lead. Times have changed. An
old-fashioned husband may have difficulty when his wife begins to
change, too.
--Your parent may be suppressing anger to keep the peace.
Subconsciously, one parent may not want to disagree in any way
with his or her spouse for fear that his or her last words to a
spouse will be words of anger. Instead, Mom will swallow her words,
and the anger will build up inside her until one day it explodes
over something minor.
What can you do if your parents are having more battles?
1. Consider what the fight is about. How important is
the issue? Is it a question that needs to be resolved, or is it just
everyday friction? Is it something they need to handle
themselves—for example, which soap opera to watch while they’re
eating lunch? (Can one program be watched and the other recorded?
Would it be easier if they ate that meal separately, with one parent
claiming “the big television” for a week, while the other uses the
smaller set that’s in the bedroom or kitchen?) Or is the issue
something big that needs your attention, too? Perhaps Dad wants them
to move to an apartment and Mom doesn’t want to sell the house.
2. Try to avoid taking sides. Talk to each parent
separately and alone. Listen to that person’s point of view. If you
hear both sides, you may be able to better understand each point of
view. If the fight seems to be unequal and one parent really needs
help, provide it. For example, it’s no longer safe for Mom to drive,
but Dad can’t get her to give up the car keys. Or Mom is in danger
of becoming ill herself because taking care of Dad is so taxing and
he refuses to allow her to spend money on outside help.
3. Remember that the arbitrator’s role is always a delicate
one, especially when all the parties are in the same family.
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