Though Freeman is in good physical condition for her age, her daughter selects her clothes, manages her medication and fixes her meals. After so many years apart, Wolf is happy to do it. I tell her, 'You took care of me. Still, all that togetherness can strain relationships. Caregivers, after all, are pulled in many directions helping their parents and appeasing their spouses.
Little irritations can build up.
Shirley Smith's mother, for instance, has a habit of dropping her teeth during meals. She's not supposed to go near the stove, for her own safety, but she does. She wants to wash dishes but can't see that they're not clean. Smith lets it roll off her back. But it can annoy her husband.