Hugs to Taeylor and ER.
Taeylor I know what you mean about having to do it at an early age. My grandmother (who raised me) had a stroke when I was in my first year of college. My mom's salary was paying the morgage, so I needed to stay home and care for her. Every so often -- especially the way the economy is now -- I wonder how things would have worked out if I hadn't had to give up a full Ivy League scholarship (I finished college later while working), but I did the only thing I could do and have a clear conscience about it. It bought my grandmother 5 years more at home before a nursing home became physically necessary.
Of course, 20 some years ago my mother became unable to work due to injuries from a bad fall at her job. She's not bedridden or anything; but handicapped enough that I have to do a lot -- and work around the digging in of the heels that elderly people do when they're used to being independent then have to be dependent. I can really relate to what the two of you went through with caring for the parents and grandparents -- and of course whatever Janet the Wicked's family illness issues are.
Jeannie
