My Carer and I

stickywicket
stickywicket Member Posts: 27,764
edited 3. Dec 2014, 05:22 in Community Chit-chat archive
I always aim for 'normality' as much as possible but, when the boiler packs in, in late November, I'm not above playing the disabled card to get it fixed asap. So, when Mr SW rang British Gas this morning, I allowed him to explain about the arthritis and the engineer came out straight away. Later, I overheard the latter calling his boss about the problem and saying “The carer says.....”

I felt my hackles rising instantly. I know he is. I know he does. But, so far this morning:

I'd done the washing up while he stared pensively at me;

“What's up?” I asked.

“Nothing. But I'm betwixt and between. I can't really do anything can I until he comes, can I?”

“Why not? I can.”

I carried on washing up then, just in time, before the gas man arrived, managed to take all my veg, a bowl, chopping board and knife into the dining room so that I could prep the veg for tonight's meal while the engineer was taking up most of the small kitchen with his bags and bits of the boiler.

My 'carer' continued to mooch around. The man arrived. I retired to the dining room and chopped. I could hear my carer mooching on, pacing the floor, occasionally offering a spot of advice to the engineer :shock:

He is, officially, my carer. He does care. But multi-tasking is not his thing. He's a bloke :roll:
If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
Steven Wright

Comments

  • LignumVitae
    LignumVitae Member Posts: 1,972
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Depending on my sleep levels I'd have been tempted to throttle them both with a kitchen towel. I get where you are coming from - Mr LV went through a phase of complaining at the state of the house and saying if he had the time he'd clean and tidy...that was until every time I found him parking his behind playing with his phone I explained how he could be sweeping, mopping or doing something to do with cleaning. He no longer complains but still sits and plays with his phone :roll:
    Hey little fighter, things will get brighter
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I love your ways with words: ' . . . while he stared at me pensively.' - I can just picture it! :lol:

    There are many things that I should have been doing this morning such as tidying up and sorting out but instead I 'treated' myself by erecting the new Christmas tree: 7 feet tall and over 5000 tips of rather scratchy plastic but it is feather-light to look at. By the time I've finished with it . . . . well, let's say the National Grid will need to stoke up another boiler or two to get enough leccy to the DD household. :wink: DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • villier
    villier Member Posts: 4,426
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    As I don't have someone to 'stare at me pensively' I just have to get on with things on my tod :D glad you got the boiler fixed quickly xx
    Smile a while and while you smile
    smile another smile and soon there
    will be miles and miles of smiles
    just because you smiled I wish your
    day is full of Smiles
  • theresak
    theresak Member Posts: 1,998
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I remember getting quite upset just after I was diagnosed with RA, when one of the nurses kept referring to Nick as my main carer. It conjured up all sorts of visions so I always pointed out I actually still thought of him as a husband.

    I might have had a few choice words in your situation this morning.
  • Slosh
    Slosh Member Posts: 3,194
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    One of the things I find difficult is when I'm asked who is at home to look after me, the first time I asked why I was being asked this I was told it was clear I needed help to manage!

    I stil hate being asked this, especially as my OH is away during the week I have to manage alone then.
    He did not say you will not be storm tossed, you will not be sore distressed, you will not be work weary. He said you will not be overcome.
    Julian of Norwich
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    This is a difficult one, isn't it? For what it's worth, Villier and Slosh, I'm with you: as far as I am concerned I am my main carer because, much as he tries (and he can be trying :wink: ) I manage better without.

    I received a text at 18.10 telling me he's now left work, which means that the dinner I was timing for 19.00 now has to be adjusted to 20.00. Of course it will but imagine the complaint if the metaphorical boot was placed elsewhere. :roll: DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • mig
    mig Member Posts: 7,154
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    We both have a carer I'm his and he's mine. Mig
  • barbara12
    barbara12 Member Posts: 21,281
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    My oh all over, if we are waiting for somthing he will sit watching the tv, like you say men are not good at multitasking...but the one thing I do not like is when he says my wife is disabled, I know I am but hate hearing it..he still has to work at nearly 67, so I do feel for him :)
    Love
    Barbara
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,764
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I think it's clear we all dislike being 'labelled'. I actually don't mind being referred to as 'disabled' because I clearly am and no-one could dispute it but, like Tezz, I see my husband as my husband and, like mig says, we care for each other. There are multiple ways of caring and being disabled makes no difference for many of them.

    A friend always insists that her husband is her husband not her partner. She feels, after 40+ years of marriage, they've earned the right to officially be husband and wife.

    P.S The boiler worked this morning :D

    P. P. S. My 'carer', Mr SW (aka General Waste) washed up after breakfast. As a result I've been sliding all over the kitchen floor ever since :roll:
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • tkachev
    tkachev Member Posts: 8,332
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I spend 2 and a half hours each morning getting the kids off to school (which includes washing and dressing my 15 year old son),
    doing housework such as tidying other's mess, washing up and drying,sorting the washing (bending down is painful) during which time my 'carer' sits and watches the TV, reads his facebook and has a smoke and several cups of tea (I usually get 3 cold cups before I get a nice hot cup). to make matters worse he usually makes a comment about 'nice ****' which I'm afraid does not go down well!

    And he gets paid £61 per week for all this!


    Elizabeth
    Never be bullied into silence.
    Never allow yourself to be made a victim.
    Accept no ones definition of your life

    Define yourself........

    Harvey Fierstein
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,764
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I think, if mine did that, he'd get several cups of tea poured over his head. Mine does spend periods lost in his laptop while I do houseworky stuff but he's a good back and foot scrubber and hair washer, he puts cream and any necessary dressings on my feet, fastens shoes, buttons and zips when needed and helps me into and out of difficult bits of clothing. (I can regularly be seen, first thing in the morning, patrolling the house like a zombie with my jumper hanging from the top of my head, in search of my carer who will pull it on for me :lol: )
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • theresak
    theresak Member Posts: 1,998
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Oh Sticky, I can empathise. I'm really struggling at present & had to locate my husband this morning so he could put my socks on for me, amongst other things.
  • tkachev
    tkachev Member Posts: 8,332
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    He is a very good hair washer and back scrubber and toe nail cutter and does all the shopping but I do get a bit fed up with the morning ritual. A little bit of input would be welcome.


    Elizabeth
    Never be bullied into silence.
    Never allow yourself to be made a victim.
    Accept no ones definition of your life

    Define yourself........

    Harvey Fierstein
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Oh tkachev, there's a world of hurt and pain in your last post. :( Is your OH of the generation where women 'do' childcare? It seems he helps you physically but maybe not practically? DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • tkachev
    tkachev Member Posts: 8,332
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thank you DD and you are Spot on as usual. His Mother does everything at home, including doing all the business paperwork, meals are delivered on time. I do think this is at the heart of the problem.

    I wouldn't mind but OH doesn't work, whereas his Dad, even at age 70 does.

    Anyway I still have a lot to be thankful for :D
    Never be bullied into silence.
    Never allow yourself to be made a victim.
    Accept no ones definition of your life

    Define yourself........

    Harvey Fierstein
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,764
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I like your attitude, Elizabeth.
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • Starburst
    Starburst Member Posts: 2,546
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    At my GP surgery, there is a pop note on the dr's computer screen that says; Has carer: <Starburst's mum> even though I have no recollection of registering my mum as a carer. Sometimes when she's nagging me, as mother's do, despite me being 26 (!), I tell her I am going to sack her as my carer.

    In my job, I often see family members (of service users) listed as 'carer' which seems to be a default position for nearest relative when it's clear that they are not receiving any kind of 'care' at all. :(