Auntie F. Comes Visiting

Auntie F. portrait taken by Jonny my Godson

I believe we all have certain mental difficulties and disorders.

Unfortunately, Auntie F. has had far more than her fair share. Never a confident person and seriously under-performing at school, she endured torrents of abuse and ridicule from her peers throughout her Secondary school years. The cruelty of school children knows no bounds.

Fortunately, she met and married Uncle P. - calm, laid-backed, the patience of an angel, and a sharp, dry sense of humour. How he copes for such long periods of one-to-one with his wife is nothing short of extraordinary. Must be love.

She has seen a wide variety of psychiatrists and psychotherapists over the years, and is heavily medicated with a variety of tablets including lithium. At the moment both manic depression and OCD are clearly present and her facial tics are in abundance.

People do help her out including the social services. F. helps out 2 days a week in her local elementary school as a general volunteer, and particularly enjoys the hugs and company with the kids. She is also studying Mathematics at a local school and she is keen to show me her skills in ratios.

However, even angels need a rest from time to time, and when things get just too much he arranges for Aunt F to have 5 – 7 day stays here with my ma and pa. Auntie F. is on her visit from Birmingham to my parents and indeed at this moment in time, my home.

It´s tough going in her company. She is particularly down and delusional at the moment, and Ma really has to tiptoe on eggshells. I try and pitch in, and spend some one-on-one time, asking her observations as a school assistant, showing her photos and making her awesome avocado toasted sandwiches and scrambled egg breakfasts when ma has had sleep-ins.

I share the same bathroom as Auntie F. who suffers from both Irritable Bowel Syndrome and piles, not to mention her OCD ensures each visit can last up to two hours. Roll on the weekend.