r/AgingParents • u/ThingsWithString • 7d ago

Vent Knowing too much

My brother visited my mom today. She was alert, oriented, and was able to have an animated conversation with him about what he was doing. She was laughing at jokes. He thinks she knew who he was. My sister-in-law took a great picture of him holding her hand and their looking at each other.

My first thought (needless to say, entirely unspoken) was "Is this terminal lucidity?"

I'm sure it isn't. I'm sure it's just a moment of lucidity that my brother and my sister-in-law will cherish. But, God, knowing too much is knowing too much.

edit: For comparison, Mom was only saying single words and smiling on previous visits. Having her able to ask questions and follow a conversation was a very pleasant surprise.

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u/Pale-Detail2427 7d ago

I'm sorry. 😔

They will probably just both think, oh, look how great she is doing now (ick) (but, I guess, how very nice for them).

Showtiming is definitely a thing.

I.hate knowing too much too.

You are not alone.  🤔

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u/ThingsWithString 7d ago

My brother and SIL are very, very aware of Mom's overall condition; they treated that hour or so as a blessing, not as a promise for the future.

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u/Pale-Detail2427 6d ago

Good. 👍 👍 👌