My Grandpa called me up today and asked if I would go to his eye surgery with him at the end of the month. Obviously, there is no way I can say no, especially when he proceeds to say "I think it will be FUN for us both since we haven't seen each other in a while." What?! Fun for who?! He is having surgery on his eyeball...not fun, and I will be at the hospital from 10-3...not fun either. I really don't want to go, but I certainly don't want him to go alone...so it looks like I am stuck. I pretended to sound excited like...ohhh yeah I would LOVE to go and keep you company...but inside I was crying. I won't be able to sub that day or work at my other job...so not only will I be bored out of my mind, I will be losing my much needed money.
Sadly, the Grandpa drama doesn't stop there. After getting off the phone with him he calls again about 20 minutes later. This time he asks for my Dad's work address because he wants to send him a "special letter". Suspicious. I call my dad with this shady information and immediately we both agree that the Gramps needs money. This makes me very very mad because my dad has already given him plenty of money recently AND my dad is soo nice that he would do it again. I feel bad for my Grandpa because he doesn't have a lot of money...but at the same time I'm angry with him because he gambles his money away!!! I'm also mad at my mom because she won't give him any money (granted she doesn't have much herself but this is HER dad, my dad shouldn't have to be the one making sure my Grandpa doesn't go homeless!) Then of course I end up feeling bad for my dad because he is in an uncomfortable situation and he will give the money to him even though he has 2 kids in college and 1 semi-unemployed bum of a child who will probably need help paying rent next month.
Grrr. I hate how things always get so complicated and I hate how I always seem stuck in the middle of everything. Both my mom and my mom's sister live an hour away from my Grandpa so I am the one who goes out to lunch with him and takes him to random appointments which is fine, I just wish he had more people to help him out so there wasn't so much pressure on me to always be there.
I have no idea what he is going to do when he can't work anymore and his money runs out. This should really be my mom's worry, not mine, but I have a feeling when this day comes I'll be somehow involved.
7 years ago
2 comments:
Oh Bets, you're so nice to help our your grandpa, it sounds like he really has no one else. I can't believe your dad has been guilted into giving him money though, your mom needs to get her act together.
I'm surprised that your grandpa would ask your dad to give him money. I would feel weird asking my ex-son-in-law for money. I feel bad for your grandpa...people their age haven't saved much for retirement and before you know it, 1 in 5 Americans will be over 65 years old and guess who gets to pay for it? I'm definitely going to save money for retirement so I don't put a huge burden on my children and grandchildren.
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