This is so beautiful and so true. It’s so sad how we segregate the elderly and children away from each other.
My grandmothers both succumbed to dementia. This process was painful in so many ways, but both of them ended up so much more joyful than they were in their right minds. My mother’s mother gradually stopped talking and only sang hymns. No one had ever heard her sing before- apparently she was told as a young girl to just mouth the words in church as she couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket. She lost her inhibitions along with her short term memory. In the end, she would sing pieces of different hymns along with nonsense words, all garbled together. Maybe she was getting a head start on praising God. My father’s mother babbles like a toddler, but sounds for all the world like she is telling you something very important and you just don’t understand. She adores all of the great grandchildren and they laugh and play with her, just as if she is an elderly two year old.
This isn’t always how dementia is, of course, but I’ve seen firsthand that people can continue to have dignity and joy, even in severe cognitive decline.
I’m glad that you are bringing your children to see your grandmother. It is a blessing to both her and to your children.
This is so beautiful and so true. It’s so sad how we segregate the elderly and children away from each other.
My grandmothers both succumbed to dementia. This process was painful in so many ways, but both of them ended up so much more joyful than they were in their right minds. My mother’s mother gradually stopped talking and only sang hymns. No one had ever heard her sing before- apparently she was told as a young girl to just mouth the words in church as she couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket. She lost her inhibitions along with her short term memory. In the end, she would sing pieces of different hymns along with nonsense words, all garbled together. Maybe she was getting a head start on praising God. My father’s mother babbles like a toddler, but sounds for all the world like she is telling you something very important and you just don’t understand. She adores all of the great grandchildren and they laugh and play with her, just as if she is an elderly two year old.
This isn’t always how dementia is, of course, but I’ve seen firsthand that people can continue to have dignity and joy, even in severe cognitive decline.
I’m glad that you are bringing your children to see your grandmother. It is a blessing to both her and to your children.
Thank you so much for sharing about your beautiful grandmothers too. ❤️
Quietly poignant. A heartfelt read.