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A Grateful Thought | My Mother Is 97 Today

By Barbara Todaro

Services for Real Estate Pros with RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired 104763

December 01, 2019 11:34 AM

What a day! My mother is 97 today and is at Maples Nursing Center in Wrentham.

Tammy, Brittany, Sandy and I visited her with presents and cupcakes. It was not a good day for my mother today. We never know what to expect when we visit and can only hope for the best.

Gladys was a personal loan officer at Ben Franklin Savings Bank for decades, and when I saw the look on her face I knew it was a tough day. That's the look loan customers received when they didn't pay on time!!!

Last week she was good and had the nurses laughing....not so much today!!!

The nurses and a few of the residents sang with us, while she held her baby doll. I'm very thankful for that doll. It calms her down, and she talks to the doll.

My mother is physically very strong, but her dementia seems to be progressing. We're fortunate to still have her with us and hopefully she'll be in a better mood at the next visit.

By the way, she still has a sweet tooth. She ate the frosting off one cupcake!!!!

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Elyse Berman, PA

LoKation Real Estate - Boca Raton, FL

Boca Raton FL (561) 716-7824

How lucky you are to still have your mom Barbara Todaro . Bless her at 97! That doll is a great idea as they say people with dementia lose a decade at a time. I had to take a class in order to take my mother to a certain doctor. He ran a memory clinic and I remember them saying that.

Dec 01, 2019 01:52 PM

Roy Kelley

Gaithersburg, MD
Barbara Todaro

Franklin, MA

Barbara Todaro

RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA

Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Elyse Berman, PA I'd rather see her with that doll in her arms all day than increase her medication to calm her.... that doll was my granddaughter's when she was 5...it has skin just like a baby's and a cute face.... hair that feels real....

the crocheted items that doll is wearing and the blanket were crocheted by my mother many years ago....

Dec 01, 2019 01:58 PM

Lisa Weiler

PM LLC - Los Angeles, CA

Interior Design Expert & Home Stager

Congratulations to your mother! 97 years is amazing!

Dec 01, 2019 02:53 PM

Barbara Todaro

Franklin, MA

Barbara Todaro

RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA

Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Those are strong Armenian genes Lisa Weiler

Dec 01, 2019 02:54 PM

Dorie Dillard Austin TX

Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX

NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good evening Barbara Todaro ,

Your mom is lucky to have such an extended family to help her celebrate 97 years young!! Maybe tomorrow will be a more positive one for her.

Dec 01, 2019 05:58 PM

Barbara Todaro

Franklin, MA

Kathy Streib

Cypress, TX

Home Stager/Redesign

Hi BarbaraT- how lucky your whole family is to have your mother still with you! I hope that tomorrow will be a better day for Gladys.

Dec 01, 2019 06:38 PM

Barbara Todaro

Franklin, MA

Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089

Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI

Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info

She's lucky to have all of you there to help celebrate. Hoping she has a better day tomorrow. I noticed at the hospital where my dad was, an old woman would carry a baby doll around. I guess it must be a common practice.

Dec 01, 2019 07:57 PM

Barbara Todaro

Franklin, MA

Barbara Todaro

It calms them..... brings them back to the days of cuddling their own baby (s).....

Dec 02, 2019 02:05 AM

George Souto

George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT

Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Barbara that is a lot of generations in that picture

Dec 01, 2019 10:01 PM

Barbara Todaro

Franklin, MA

Bob Crane

Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI

Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Hi Barbara, Thanks for sharing your story and the fabulous picture. Your mom looks great for 97. Dementia can be so tough on everyone. My father-in-law really suffered with that before he passed away.

Dec 01, 2019 10:43 PM

Barbara Todaro

Franklin, MA

Barbara Todaro

RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA

Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Thanks everyone for your nice comments...... I appreciate them....

Dec 02, 2019 02:06 AM

James Dray

Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

Morning Barbara.

You are so fortunate to have her still with you. The photo says it all, may you be blessed with her for at least another decade.

Dec 02, 2019 02:11 AM

Barbara Todaro

Franklin, MA

Potranco Realty

Potranco Realty - San Antonio, TX

"Sold with Potranco Realty"

Barbara Todaro thanks for sharing your mother Glady. I'm sure it can be hard but she is loved and well taken care of. You all look so happy, may God bless you and your family.

Dec 02, 2019 03:14 AM

Barbara Todaro

Franklin, MA

Cindy Edwards

RE/MAX Checkmate - Johnson City, TN

CRS, GRI, PMN - Northeast Tennessee 423-677-6677

Wow Barbara, a blessing to have your mom at 97. Happy Birthday!!!

Dec 02, 2019 03:56 AM

Barbara Todaro

Franklin, MA

Nina Hollander, Broker

Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC

Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Regardless of the dementia, Barbara... you are so blessed to still have your Mom with you... I wish I still had mine (she would have been 100 in September). Happy birthday to Gladys!

Dec 02, 2019 06:03 AM

Barbara Todaro

Franklin, MA

Michael Jacobs

Pasadena, CA

Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hello Barbara - Happy Belated Birthday to Gladys! By the way, she can have my cupcake - it's more than okay if she prefers the frosting only. I am going to pass on the cake part too along with that even sweeter part.

Dec 02, 2019 06:40 AM

Barbara Todaro

Franklin, MA

Barbara Todaro

RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA

Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Thanks, again, everyone for your nice Birthday Wishes for my mother...

Dec 02, 2019 06:43 AM

Michael Jacobs

Pasadena, CA

Brian England

Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ

MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

Happy Birthday to such a beautiful woman! There is so much love in the Todaro family!!!

Dec 02, 2019 06:50 AM

Barbara Todaro

Franklin, MA

MichelleCherie Carr Crowe .Just Call. 408-252-8900

Get Results Team...Just Call (408) 252-8900! . DRE #00901962 . Licensed to Sell since 1985 . Altas Realty - San Jose, CA

Family Helping Families Buy & Sell Homes 40+ Years

Wishing your mom a very happy and blessed 97th birthday year.

Dec 02, 2019 01:47 PM

Debe Maxwell, CRS

Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC

The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Oh, that is such a sweet picture, Barbara. I actually thought she was holding a baby and thought how strong she must be to do so.

I have Alzheimer's in my family and having them not know who you are is expected but, boy, no matter what, it still stings a bit. I love that she's near you so you can visit her often though - that is so important and so many seniors don't have their family nearby. She's one lucky lady!

Happy Belated Birthday, Gladys!

Dec 02, 2019 06:17 PM

Grant Schneider

Performance Development Strategies - Armonk, NY

Your Coach Helping You Create Successful Outcomes

Good evening Barbara Todaro - we have friends with Alzheimer's in their family. It is wonderful that you are close to your mother. Every single moment counts.

Dec 02, 2019 06:43 PM