Today I receive an “F” in my care-giving skills.

I made Mom a tuna-fish sandwich for lunch. After I served Mom, I returned to the kitchen and poured the juice I had drained off the tuna can over some wet cat food. My mistake was that I walked away and left it on the counter while I put in a load of laundry.

When I got back to the kitchen Mom had wrapped 1/2 of her sandwich in a napkin and placed it on the counter next to the refrigerator. She pointed to the bowl with the cat food and tuna juice I had unfortunately left on the counter and announced “I am saving the rest of this for later.” I responded with “Mom that is cat food, your sandwich is over there” as I pointed to the wrapped portion by the refrigerator.  Not to be dissuaded, Mom said “I eat cat food!”

Now, this is where I am supposed to practice my new technique of agree or distract…..this is also where I received my failing grade.  I fell right in line with the old reasoning routine and said “Mom you absolutely do not eat cat food!” She got angry with me and said “How the hell do you know what I eat! You don’t follow me around!” I looked at her for a minute and then remarked “Well you got me there Mom and to be honest at this point I don’t want to know.” She walked out….and I hurriedly fed the cat food to the dogs! Double “F”!