My Mom has been diagnosed with “dementia without behavioral disturbance.” I have learned not to argue with her or try to correct her too much because whatever she thinks and says is real to her. She is not going to accept something that is contrary to what she thinks is real just because someone says so.

We had a nice pork roast dinner for Christmas. Mom helped prepare the roast for the oven, peeled some potatoes, cut the carrots, and prepared the asparagus. The dinner turned out excellent. Mom told me on Christmas night that she had a nice Christmas. That's all that matters to me.

For the past few months Mom has treated me like I was her boyfriend who is taking care of her while she is sick. I learned not to argue about it or try to correct it because she would get agitated and sometimes abusive. I didn't want to live in a state of constant turmoil. She always talked about her son John like he was someone else living somewhere else.

Last night before Mom went to sleep she said to me, “I want you to know that I am grateful for everything you do for me. You are the only one in the world who cares about me, except for my son John, which is also you."

I was stunned.

John