father

My father is far less physically infirmed than my mother, although his hearing is impaired. Unfortunately, other faculties have become impaired but, perhaps through fear of this and difficulties with caring for my mother, he seems unable to adapt. He is easily distracted and gets very impatient with things. I’ve never had an easy relationship with him but have tried to engage where I can, but recently it has become almost impossible to converse with him meaningfully.

I have had to accept he just likes to complain about things in general and make disparaging comments about things or people he sees or hears and that to engage with this with anything other than an acknowledgment leads to either being talked over or unsought conflict. He especially doesn’t like being offered solutions. I suppose it may just be his way of letting off steam but it makes spending time with him, like with my mother so hard and painful.

Tension between him and my mother is high and often breaks out into abrasive argument. Spending time with my parents is like watching a car crash in slow motion.