The Role Reversal I Didn’t See Coming

Each time I see her,
I’m reminded of another year passed,
more aging signs show…

The slower movements.
The more predominent wrinkles.
The skin beginning to look less elastic & transparent.

I sit here thinking about our day…
the laughter
the tears
her using me to help her walk to and from the beach (granted the sand is hard to walk in)
how I remind her to be careful several times a days – in & out of the shower, walking to and from the dock, up/down the stairs and asking her if she was okay…over & over all through the day.

The tears begin to fall…
is this how it was like for her when I was a kid –
helping me?
reminding me to be careful?
scared of every thing… every time I wasn’t in her sight?

Because this. THIS is how it is for me in this moment – a middle-aged woman watching her beautiful momma age…more.

I try not to go there…
the thoughts of what I know is going to come (one day)…
but it’s hard not to let my thoughts wander there.

But it’s time to put the thoughts aside, and be present
because I live 2,000+ miles away & don’t see her often & don’t
want these moments, here at the beach February 2026 with her, to be wasted…

So today, I choose to sit beside her. And just be here.