You SHOULD...

OK, so as the daughter living in the same town as her parents, I'm increasingly aware of those who feel the daughter SHOULD do various things for her parents.  When Dad was still alive and driving, I received a letter (unsigned) that implored me to keep my dad from driving.  The writer even included an article of an older gentleman who'd caused an accident as if to say, don't let this happen to your dad.  What that anonymous person didn't realize is that I had no influence over my dad and his driving, mostly because my mother wouldn't allow meddling in such matters. Then there was the comment made to me about my cousin.  An older woman wondered aloud to me why my cousin wasn't moving in with her folks and taking care of them.  Daughter duty, you know.  As if a daughter's life goal should be care for her parents.  Good grief...that a daughter would have a life of her own?    Unthinkable. Many seem to feel what a daughter SHOULD be doing is...

And just today...a friend stopped by to return something I'd loaned her.  She remarked how nice it was to see my mom at church and how "wonderful it would be in these last years of your mom's life to see you sitting next to her in church."  Well, let's just tighten the guilt knot a bit more.  The last thing I want is to be in charge of her at church, too.

So I guess there are those who want to toss the SHOULD noose.  I'm still avoiding it.