While with mom and dad last week, I cleaned out mom's closets -- and yes I mean plural, closets. Apparently my mom and dad like to shop (as if anyone didn't know that already). My darling parents have been clothes shopping for mom for years now. We have a closet for winter clothes and one for summer clothes. YIKES!
Her little frail body is down to 119 lbs so for many of her long time/long distance friends this is about a 20 lb difference in mom. Needless to say, I went through her closet and donated 60 articles of clothing to charity the other day. Lots of old stuff that was too big and quite a few newer things that were hideous and my mom was not going to traipse around town in them. ALZ has taken away some of moms' ability to critique clothing and know if it's right for her and it fits.
Then came the shopping trip. I felt like a mom, taking her daughter school clothes shopping. The big difference was that I could actually suggest certain things, bring them into the dressing room and she was SO AGREEABLE! Wish I could have had my kids be so grateful and accepting during those "school shopping days".
We got her down to some basics in pants and ones that actually fit. Poor lady, she had been shopping in more "hip" departments and buying pants that were low rise (the wider waistband that sits below your waste) and trying to pull them up to her waist. Not a pretty sight.
I found some very tasteful, slim cut elastic waist dress slacks at dress barn (even bought a pair for myself). They are kind of like a yoga pant at the waist -- easy to get on and off and they look great. We got black, brown and navy to gear up for fall.
It's hard for dad as I have realized that he wants his woman looking FINE. He loves blouses on my mother and kept picking out some really "snazzy" things for her. Buttons are hard. Enough said. The harsh reality is that mom needs elastic waists and knit pull over type shirts. I know that when she goes into full time care, these are the easiest things for them to wear. I remember this with Grandma. I didn't have the heart to tell dad the real truth about this one.
He is awesome. Puts her make upon, earrings in, jewelry on..... I never realized he was so "in to" how my mom looks. Kind of cute. Kind of frustrating at the same time. Part of me thinks he's trying to "hold on" to who my mom use to be. And yet, he is having a terrible time remembering when she showered last (we are down to every other day). He has so much to keep track of and as you know, he's a little scattered anyway so it's stressful.
Hannah will be moving in with them and attending BYU-Idaho part time this fall. She is excited to be living there and helping them out. I am going to get some charts made up for her to use so she can keep track ( for me) of mom's hygiene and exercise.
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