Orphaned at 39
Published March 17, 2006
I've heard the term "orphaned adult" but I never really understood its meaning, until my mother died. I lost my father when I was 26, our relationship was volatile. From his death bed he told me he was proud of me. That was bittersweet; I wish he had felt that way while he was healthy. My father died of cancer of the colon and liver at age 56. My mother survived him by fourteen years. She died Memorial Day of 2005, of congestive heart failure from a lifetime of smoking. She was 68. I was 39 when my mother died.
My mom died the end of May and I turned 40 a couple of months later in August. I always thought 40 would be a turning point for me. Among the things I wanted to accomplish in the decade was to write a book. I had big dreams, and all of them included my mother. I lived with her and was her primary caregiver. I wanted to have a best-seller so I could buy her the home of her dreams. A big ranch style home with a gazebo in the back. In my dreams, I never thought I would turn forty without her.
Her death left me feeling lost. I was so busy running back and forth to the hospital, then mom came home with Hospice and I provided around the clock care. Her hospice bed was in the living room so I slept on the couch right next to her. When she died, I sat down and its been hard to get back up. The feeling of exhaustion is one that not even sleep can extinguish.
I have a lot of resentments towards family members. I have siblings, but evidence of that was lacking with mom's care. I lost some very special dogs during my mom's final days, Reggie, Star and Pugsy. They were rescues with special needs. Three of my seven rescued dogs had needs that conflicted with my mothers. I spoke with the vet who said they would need placed carefully in special homes but there was still a very big risk of the separation anxiety being too much for them to handle. They had been physcially abused and emotionally damaged. The vet and I decided together the most humane thing would be to put them down. I devoted my life to those dogs, I fought for Reggie in court. His abuser sued me to get him back and lost. Reggie was special to everyone who knew him. I held each dog while they died and whispered "I'm sorry" in their ears. My mom died three days later.
It was just me — mom always said our song was, "You and Me Against The World". My siblings all have their issues, but so do I. I dealt with a childhood full of abuse, I asked for help and didn't get it. I had resentments towards my parents for looking the other way, but in the end they were still my parents. I believe we only know what we have been taught. They weren't taught by the best parents. I think they at least made better parents than their own.
Ruthie is a celebrity webmaster and an author. She has written two books, Ugly Girl and Rescued Hearts. She spends her free time contemplating the meaning of life while watching the grass grow from her sofa on the front lawn. Ruthie818@neo.rr.com
- Orphaned at 39
- Published: March 17, 2006
- Type: Opinion
- Section: Culture
- Filed Under: Culture: Family and Relationships, Culture: Society
- Writer: Ruthie
- Ruthie's BC Writer page
- Ruthie's personal site
- Spread the Word
- Like this article?
- Email this
Save to del.icio.us
Comments on this articleComments
Thanks Trooper...I think I have forgiven all involved...I just wonder what she was thinking....or did she just block it out...she had helped others through a similar situation...but not me...so I was always curious as to why her own wasn't worth protecting...I was interested in her thought process through it all.
Ruthie.....there is a similar situation to yours in my family.
i don't believe that it was a matter of your mother not thinking you were worth protecting, i seriously doubt she would feel that way. sometimes people are so busy looking out for those around the perimeter, they fail to see the ones up close who really need the help. perhaps your mother simply made the false assumption that since you were right there under her nose, you were fine.
unfortunately, this happens all too often. you are in my prayers.
Thanks Chantal.
Good point chantal. I was just thinking about that after reading Ruthie's reply.
Good for you, Ruthie! It's good that you've forgiven all those involved. At least your spirit has been cleansed, and I'm sure that your heart is full of warmth and love. Stay strong and stay safe!
Ruthie...I am so glad our paths crossed. We have much in common. I look forward to getting to know you better.
Continue to be blessed and be a blessing.
I couldnt sleep, wish I could have a chat with my mam or dad and ask their advice on a few things. Ive lost both my parents too. My mother, to a tragic accident in 1991, she was 54yrs and my father to a heart attack two years ago. I didnt know what to expect when dad died as his alcoholism had put such a strain on our relationship. Just reading your thoughts has been so comforting. When you wrote that you sat down and havent been able to get up, it touched a cord with me. It is beautifully put and so very true. I hope your days will brighten and that your heart will lift.
Ps. Your mother may not have been able to accept or admit to herself what was goig on in your childhood. Maybe that way she could believe she had protcted you, because the alternative would be too painful for her to cope with?
Hi Fran,
Sorry for your losses...its never easy being without parents at any age..regardless of what kind of relationship you had with them...glad you found some comfort from my article. It's been a couple of years since I wrote it and things are going really well these days. Positive friends and a positive outlook has really made a difference for me.
I hope life is good to you!
Take Care,
Ruthie
Add your comment, speak your mind
(Or ping: http://blogcritics.org/mt/tb/45081)
Maybe the reason you stayed with your parents, despite the abuse you've received in your early years, is that you've got a good heart. No matter the pain you've suffered, the goodness inside compelled you that your parents needed you to be there for them in their final hour. Somehow, in your heart, you've found the strength and courage to set aside your grief to make their life comfortable in the end.
I'm just wondering if you've found forgiveness? There will be a time when you will have to forgive your mother for not truly understanding what was going on when you were young. And there will be a time where you must forgive yourself, that what had happened was not your fault. Without forgiveness, that dreaded disease will eat you up from the inside.