Family Meeting
John Anderson
The Fulller family sat around the dining room table in a gathering that had been a long time coming. Sally sat between her parents. Her older brother and his wife sat with her younger brother on the table’s opposite side.
“I can’t believe we’re finally all here together,” said Sally’s mom, Alice with enthusiasm.
The others looked uncomfortable because they knew that the family reunion was to be an intervention.
Sally cleared her throat and began, “Mom and Dad, we’re all here because we’re worried about you.”
“About us?” her father complained. “There’s nothing wrong here.”
“Dad, over the past six months you’ve lost at least fifty pounds. Mom, you’re not cooking enough to provide needed calories.”
“Well, yeah, I’ve lost weight but, that’s a god thing, right?” Dad looked around at his children and gave his shrinking middle a pat. “It seems like everyone’s on a diet.”
“Joe,” pressed Alice, “a diet isn’t the whole reason you’ve lost weight.”
“No, I guess not. I guess I probably should see a dentist.”
“His teeth have been bothering him,” Alice sighed helplessly. “I can’t convince him to see our dentist.”
“Why not?” Sally asked her dad.
“I don’t know. I guess I don’t have time.”
“Not true,” interrupted Alice. “He’s afraid Dr. Brown will say he needs a lot of work.”
“Well, yeah!” exclaimed Dad as if it were obvious. “At my age, who wants to go through all that?”
The younger son offered to make a dental appointment and Sally switched topics.
“Mom and Dad, you could use some extra help around here.”
“Oh, no,” said Alice in the comforting tone she had always used to reason with her children. “We’re doing just fine.”
Sally glanced around the room noticing the dust and unmopped floors. That’s when she announced that she had arranged for a cleaning lady who would be coming to work once a week.
Forcefully Alice objected to the suggestion that her housekeeping wasn’t up to par.
“But, Mom, a lot of people hire housekeepers who show up much more often. This lady will free up your time to do other things around the house.” Her mother didn’t need to know that the housekeeper was employed by Visiting Angels, a company that sends out skilled nurses who also do light housekeeping.
“Well,” agreed Alice, “I guess the extra help might be welcome. I have been a little tired lately.”
Two weeks later:
Joe’s dental problems revealed an infection that had migrated to his sinuses and required surgery. Alice’s feeling of being “a little tired” was, in fact a case of anemia. Their health issues were a wake-up call that convinced the couple to make some changes in their lifestyle. Realistically, the changes wouldn’t happen overnight.
Sally and her brothers convinced their parents to accept help preparing meals, housekeeping, and running errands. Alice and Joe admitted that they had problems giving up control over aspects of their lives that used to be within their comfort zone, that they used to handle with ease.
When children cross the line and become the caretakers of their parents, the role reversal can be difficult for both parties to accept. The Fullers were stepping into a new life phase. The journey must be traveled carefully.
Last Updated on August 24, 2026 by AVC News
