time is worth

Mom and I have talked about my 2 years here. 
Granted,

I ran to Michigan,

not knowing what

I was jumping into.

We've chosen to compare it to the Peace Corp.

2 years, little monetary compensation, away from my home, was able to help at least 3 families, had to learn a new language/ (geriatric medicine), different culture/ (trust me on this), and sometimes work in a war zone/ (3am work:  neighbors front door broken down/interview with sheriff's dept., 1am/3am/4am work:  shots fired, 12am work:   loud domestic disturbance on the other side of my patient's bedroom door, and of course Dad's "dementia/psychotic breaks".)

Everyone HERE keeps asking, but what about your Mother . . . what will she do without you, you can't leave?!!

Mom was opposed to my staying, until I finally got her to understand it was for Dad's care.  Yes, it was obviously going to KILL her if she kept on with him alone, and that's why I came, but, "for DAD" is the only way she would allow me to be here.

So now, it is time for us to get ready for me to

go.

She will miss me.
I will worry about her.

. . . but my brother and his family are here, just a few towns over . . .

. . . and I

will still worry.

But I can't stay, she doesn't want it . . . (she cared for her mother-in-law for a year in our home . . . and it was HELL on earth for her and it has shaped her thinking), so I will go home, as she wishes.