Trading Places

I have always heard that people come full circle and the parents that nurtured and raised me would someday become dependent upon me. I didn't think very much of it until the recent illness of my parents. My Mom is improving and my Dad is continuing his negative attitude. He shares it with everyone. I love my Dad very much but he has tested my last nerve in the past few days. Two days ago I had had all that I could take and I told him that he could not call me unless he could think of one positive thing to say. Well, I had no idea that he would take it to heart as he has. It seems that every time he has a bowel movement it is a reason to call me and tell me about it. That is the positive thing that he has chosen to share. Lucky me. I have the deepest respect for my Dad but now I have had to speak to him as if he were my child rather than my parent. I have to remind him that everything will be ok if he will just try to help it along. I have to tell him that we do not ever say "can't" but instead will say "I will try". I am telling him the things that he told me when I was a child. I feel like maybe in some strange way he may be testing me to see if I remember all of the things that he taught me. I do.