Role Reversal

Almost 3 weeks ago JoAnn had surgery on her foot. It was out-patient surgery and the stitches were removed in two weeks, but she has to walk flat-footed for 6 weeks. The first few days she spent on her back and after the first week she sat up more and has become increasingly more mobile. Suzanne was here for the first 5 days and that was incredibly helpful.

After Suzanne left I was pretty much responsible for keeping things going. I don't need any snide comments girls! The first morning after Suzanne left I did the dishes, cleaned the kitchen counter, put stuff away, got clothes going in the washer and drier, and tried to get everything as clean as JoAnn does. After about 2 hours I was beginning to understand why she doesn't get started on projects until about 2 pm. Since then, I've gotten better and quicker, and JoAnn has been more mobile and also helped out. Today I even vacuumed the floors and while I've done that occasionally, I'm like Whisper, when I hear her open the door to the vacuum closet I run and hide.

There have been some behavior patterns I really wasn't ready for. Last Thursday as we got up from lunch she walked over to the recliner and sat down. I looked down at the remains of lunch on the table and realized that I had just experienced a role reversal. I do try to help out in the kitchen and we do more and more together in the kitchen, but I suspect I'm AWOL pretty frequently. Now I know how JoAnn feels after preparing dinner, setting the table, and then being left to clean the table and kitchen. I also thought this was a 1 time role reversal experience, but it's becoming a habit. Not all the time, but more frequently. I think there might be a little payback involved here and I probably deserve it (once again, no comments girls).

I'm just anxious for JoAnn to make a full recovery - and she is doing very well - so we can reverse our roles once again, but with behavior change on my part. I have felt over the last several years that I was doing my part, but I realize now I wasn't, at least not enough. All those old rationalizations pretty much have to be thrown out with yesterday's garbage. They aren't even recyclable.