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Category Archives: Relationships
“45 Years” and Past Selves
I caught a showing of the movie 45 Years over the weekend. A couple–Kate (Charlotte Rampling) and Geoff (Tom Courtenay)–are preparing to celebrate 45 years of marriage when a letter related to Geoff’s past threatens to derail their relationship. The letter … Continue reading
Posted in Psyche, Relationships, Uncategorized
Tagged aging, alternate selves, loss, marriage, movies, older adults, self, self-awareness
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The Old Fool: Lessons from King Lear
I recently wrote about the relationship between Shakespeare’s King Lear and his daughters. The behavior of Lear and his two eldest daughters demonstrate how family members shouldn’t treat one another. There’s much more to learn from King Lear than the problems that can occur between parents … Continue reading
Posted in Psyche, Relationships
Tagged aging, folly, foolishness, maturity, older adults, Shakespeare
2 Comments
Disrespectful Adult Children: Lessons from King Lear
In an earlier post I wrote about Shakespeare’s King Lear, looking at the king’s interactions with his daughters. Lear promised to distribute his kingdom to his daughters if they would profess great love for him. Goneril and Regan, the two … Continue reading
Posted in Relationships
Tagged adult children, aging, Goneril, Lear, older adults, Regan, respect, Shakespeare
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Parenting Adult Children: Lessons from King Lear
In November I saw a Calvin College production of Shakespeare’s King Lear. Intrigued, I then read the play. Lear is elderly and wishes to step aside from the burdens of ruling. He has three daughters and plans to divide his kingdom among … Continue reading
Posted in Relationships
Tagged aging, conditional love, elderly, elderly parents, love, manipulation, older adults, parenting, Shakespeare
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“Mr. Holmes”–A Reflection
This isn’t a review, but a reflection. The movies that intrigue me do so because they explore questions like how we should live our lives, what makes for good (and bad) relationships, and how we come to be made whole … Continue reading
Posted in Psyche, Relationships
Tagged aging, elderly, maturity, memory, movies, older adults, self-awareness, Sherlock Holmes
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Friendships: Who Stays and Who Goes
I wrote earlier about how friendships change over the years. After our children leave home and we retire (or just work less), most of us have more time to spend with friends. When we reach that point, some of us reconnect … Continue reading
Posted in Relationships
Tagged adulthood, aging, friends, friendship, older adults, reconnecting, retirement
1 Comment
Complicated Grief
There was recently an article in the New York Times about complicated grief. Virtually everyone experiences intense suffering after losing someone they are close to, but most don’t have that intense suffering continue on for over a year without lessening … Continue reading
Grandparents Day
I recently went for Grandparents Day at my grandchildren’s school. All three of my grandchildren are in the same school for just one year–Calvin in 6th grade, Theo in 2nd grade, and Willa in preschool. Next year, Calvin will go … Continue reading
Posted in Relationships
Tagged aging, grandchildren, grandpa, grandparenting, older adults, school
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Conversing With Dementia
I recently read a Next Avenue interview with Jonathan Kozol, author of the memoir The Theft of Memory: Losing my Father One Day at a Time. Jonathan’s father Harry, a psychiatrist and neurologist, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in his late 80s … Continue reading
Posted in caregiving, Relationships
Tagged aging, caregiving, dementia, elderly parents, identity, older adults, parents
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On The Ladder of The Generations
I spend most of my time staying with my mother, who is 89 years old. She functions pretty well in her own house, preparing her own meals, dressing without assistance, and doing her laundry. She doesn’t drive or use a … Continue reading
Posted in caregiving, Relationships
Tagged aging, caregiving, disability, elderly, elderly parents, older adults
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