Living with my grandpa

[MrCrowesGarden]

Let me first preface this by saying that I do love my grandpa.

He lived in Louisiana for most of his life, but he's lived with my family ever since Hurricane Katrina. He's fine by himself during the days, but I really doubt he could live on his own full-time.

I know getting old is hard, but watching over him has really become difficult. I'm not saying that I'm the healthiest eater there is, but he's terrible at it and has health conditions (diabetes among others) that really should limit what he eats. But he doesn't listen, nor do I ever think he will. I can't count how many times he's been in the hospital in the last three years. He knows he shouldn't be drinking regular sodas, but I'm not sure how many times I've caught him drinking a coke. He's not supposed to put salt on his food, but he does (I admit he's been better about this over the past year).

The worst part though is that he eats around the clock. That's not an exaggeration. He sleeps in spurts throughout the day, so quite often you'll hear him up at 3 AM opening the fridge and slamming the microwave door. Not that he can hear any of this. He has his television cranked up to max. volume whenever it's on.

But, back to food...he never really eats that much at mealtime, but he eats more than anyone else in the house. And then he lies about it. There will be bread in the house one day, and by the next morning, it's gone. Ask if he had any to eat, he'll say no, and you fine crumbs by the toaster.

All of this really gets to be frustrating when I'm trying to make lunch for myself (either for that day or something for tomorrow), and he either asks to eat some or just eats it. It's only enough for one person. I've got no problem splitting food if it's too much for me or if I'm planning to get multiple meals out of it, but I hate making something that sounds good and then having to eat something else because grandpa got to it.

Today, I was going to make a sandwich when I got home from class, but most of the cheese was gone (only four slices left out of about three-quarter pounds that I saw on Monday) and both the cheese and the deli meat bags weren't sealed.

I bought a big box of cereal last Monday, ate maybe two bowls out of it, and it was empty by Friday.

What really gets me though is that I'm pretty sure that some of the food that goes missing in our house goes to our two dogs. He knows we don't like him feeding them people food, but my mom, dad and I have busted him multiple times slipping food to them. One time, we caught him taking his french fries from dinner, taking them back to his room and letting them eat the whole lot of them. My dogs look so sick sometimes that it just depresses me. I know it's not their fault. They're both of a big breed, but we have them only eating about a 1/2 to 3/4 of a cup of weight control food each day and they still keep getting fatter.

His laziness also drives me crazy some days. I'll be in another room, watching TV or reading a book, when he'll call me into the kitchen and ask me to throw away his plate when he's maybe a few feet from the trash can. I don't know how many times I've cleaned up the mess he leaves behind after he eats.

Probably the most annoying part of his laziness is that he leaves our screen door open during the day so the dogs can go to and from the house to the backyard. All the while, the air conditioner is running and flies are getting into the house. We finally called him on this yesterday, and he apologized, but I'm sure the door's going to be back open by Monday.

I just don't know what to do. I don't really feel comfortable as a 23 year old telling my 76 year old grandpa what to do. He can't live on his own, and my mom will never let him live in a nursing home.

I'm sure there's some jokes that are going to be made in this thread, and I kind of feel bad writing all this stuff, but I just needed to get three years worth of frustration off of my chest.

[cardinalkarp]

He doesn't happen to be Japanese does he?

[omaha_red]

this thread made me really hungry

[Socnorb11]

I'm sure there are legitimate reasons, but at 23 years old, couldn't you try to get your own place?

[tothebeach08]

I'll give you my two cents, but then you have to go to social and give me your 2 cents. Venting is great, better here than to Grandpa, because that's not your place. If he's your Mom's Dad, then she needs to be the one that talks to him. But it's not going to do any good. At this point in his life, he's not going to change to any great extent even for his own good. He is who he is and you guys have apparently invited him into your home so now you have to deal with it. My Grandpa was one of my best friends growing up and I would give ANYTHING to have one more day with him. I'm sure it is very frustrating for all of you, but the reality is that he won't be around forever and when he is gone you are going to miss him so bad. Try not to let this stuff get to you. Hide your food somewhere, or put a lock on something and store things in there. Relax and enjoy his company.

[cardinalkarp]

I'll give you my two cents, but then you have to go to social and give me your 2 cents. Venting is great, better here than to Grandpa, because that's not your place. If he's your Mom's Dad, then she needs to be the one that talks to him. But it's not going to do any good. At this point in his life, he's not going to change to any great extent even for his own good. He is who he is and you guys have apparently invited him into your home so now you have to deal with it. My Grandpa was one of my best friends growing up and I would give ANYTHING to have one more day with him. I'm sure it is very frustrating for all of you, but the reality is that he won't be around forever and when he is gone you are going to miss him so bad. Try not to let this stuff get to you. Hide your food somewhere, or put a lock on something and store things in there. Relax and enjoy his company.

Solid advice.

[Radbird]

You are wise beyond your years, beach.

[MrCrowesGarden]

I'm sure there are legitimate reasons, but at 23 years old, couldn't you try to get your own place?

It's been cheaper and easier on my family (and me, mostly) for me to stay home while going to school. I really don't mind too much helping my family out by taking him to doctor's appointments and what not because I just think that's what a good family does.

But, to answer the question, I graduate from college in December. At that time, I'll be either moving in with my girlfriend or moving out.

[ghostrunner]