Life is messy. Some of the dilemmas we’re faced with can be so tough - it can be hard to stay true to yourself when you know some of your decisions aren’t always the most popular or are not what others would have chosen to do.
When my daughter got engaged a year and a half ago, my first reaction was absolute joy; I was not only gaining a wonderful son-in-law, I was also gaining a twelve year old grandson - both of whom I love dearly. As we began making wedding plans and putting the guest list together, I started wondering how I was going to handle mom on the day of the wedding. The more I thought about it, the more anxious I became.
From what I’d learned about mom over the last five years, if I chose to be responsible for her she would be my full time job - if I sat her down somewhere there is no way she would calmly stay there until I was able to fully concentrate on her. I thought about hiring someone to be with her the whole time and transport her to and from the venue which was an hour drive each way. That way, I could enjoy being mother of the bride and greet our guests without being distracted or worried about her. Either way, she would definitely need to have someone with her at all times, just checking on her occasionally would not work.
Or, there was another option. I could decide to not have mom there at all.
After thinking about it and talking with family and friends, that’s what I decided to do. I did talk with my daughter about it and, if it were life and death for Leah to have her grandmother there, we would have found a way. Thankfully, I have a daughter who is as reasonable as she is wonderful. I’m so grateful she understood why I was leaning towards the decision to not have mom there.
The main reason I decided to not have mom at the wedding is because of the drain it would be on me. I know to some that sounds incredibly selfish but it’s the truth. Even if I did hire a companion, mom would be looking for me, would want to be with me, and would want me to sit with her and take care of her - all very reasonable things if it had been a different situation. If mom would have been happy just to be there and enjoy the celebration I would have chosen differently but, sadly, that’s just not the case.
In the end it was a wonderful day. We talk about it often and Bill and I agree that it was one of the best days of our lives so far. There’s nothing in the world better than seeing our children happy and, ever since Leah met Jason, that’s exactly what she’s been. How could the day have been anything but perfect? What made it even more special was that Leah and Jason asked her brother, Logan, to officiate so, with his sister’s internet skills and the blessing of the state of Oklahoma, that’s exactly what he did and he was amazing. Our hearts were truly full that day.
I know if circumstances had been different and mom didn’t have dementia, she would have been there and loved every minute of it. Before she was diagnosed, she talked often about how much she was looking forward to seeing Leah as a bride someday. I did show her pictures and she loved looking at them but, even though I told her the pictures were of her granddaughter’s wedding day, she kept asking me who the bride was or if the bride was me.
For all of us, and for me, I know it was the right decision. I know mom better than anyone; I know what her limitations are and I know what mine are when it comes to her. These kinds of decisions are the reason I write about my experiences - what we’re personally able and willing to shoulder is different for everyone. There is no right or wrong when it comes to things like this; all we can do is the best we can with what we have at the moment and remember to be as kind with ourselves as we are with the people we love.
December 1, 2018. Logan, me, Jason, Leah, and Bill