It's always a turning point when you see your parents becoming the ones that you take care of, when they start slowing down, needing naps, not sleeping at night and learning that they can't do everything they used to be capable of without thinking about it. Now it requires a re-calibration of those thoughts, both for parent and child.

It started about five years ago. They'd already driven cross-country twice, once for their honeymoon in 1973, once in 1990 with my sister and I, but whirlwind trips across National Parks and various interstates to the West and back were doable at that point in our lives. The third time they planned this was post-retirement when they were 67. I looked at their itinerary and had doubts, as it was the old schedule of a night here, a night there, 13 hours of driving in between. Ok, I figured they've done it before, so they'd be fine.

Sure enough, they had to cut the trip short because of health issues, although not severe, but it was a wake up call that maybe things are hitting that turning point. My sister and I will have to advocate as the adult caretaker, and the sooner we realize that and step into that role, maybe the better it will be. It's a hard move to make and usually is a one way trip, but better to mentally prepare yourself now. Later, you rarely get a chance to make it as smooth of a transition as it can be and realizing and accepting that this is necessary for them, especially when they might soon have to give up some control over their lives that they're used to having, is easier in degrees

I hope it doesn't come to that. I hope my sister can help. I hope I can. I hope.