What can my mother do? She's thinks she's at a dead end.?

Question

This is quite lengthy. My mother is recovering from a life-threatening surgery. She wants to get out of the house because it's too depressing for her. Her current job is giving her too much stress and it's hurting her recuperation. She doesn't want to quit because she thinks she has nothing else to do, nowhere else to go. It's her last resort. She says she's not a quitter.

What can a woman, a middle-aged mother, whose English is so limited, who's afraid to escape her current situation...what can she do?

What can she do in her daily life as an alternative to working? I beg her to go back to school for the sake of education, but she says school is useless for an old woman.

Any activities around town or fun things that she can do to fill her days with?

Ideas please!

Cheers.

Answer 1

This is kind of complicated because at first I'd say she should quit her job but she needs to support herself. Where is your Dad? Is she living alone? If so, then she will need a lot of support from you to help her overcome how she feels. Maybe your mom could work from home though. Like if she's good at making stuff thats useful for people then she could sell them and earn money that way. Or she could take a class on something she likes to do like dancing or something to keep her moving to take her mind off of her stress. As for her home, what makes her house so depressing? Will rearranging the furniture, having the curtains open to let sunlight in or redecorating some rooms resolve the problem?

I can't come up with any more suggestions for your mom. I think its important she take a class so she can learn the English language a little better. You are never too old to learn and go to school. Plus being able to communicate better with people around her will open more doors to a better job that she can enjoy more than the one that stresses her out now, I'd think. (Though I can't say any job a person does will ever be stress free always.)

Talk with your mom. Ask her what she wants to do or what she's interested in to spend her days doing. Encourage her to change and find something to do that makes her happy if she's not fully happy right now.

All the best!!!

Answer 2

Your local senior center has a lot of great programs for people like your mom.  Any where from dance lessons, arts ant crafts, and so on.  A lot of centers even provide transportation.  Tell her that you don't want her to give up on herself, take care of herself. That means emotionally and mentally too.  Good luck.

Answer 3

First try finding out things that interest her.  If she doesn't like her job check out craigslist they have lots of job openings among other things.  Get her out of the house take her to the movies, treat her to a day at the spa and a makeover that really has a way of lifting any woman's spirits.  If something she has an interest in requires more schooling keep encouraging her, but give her mild little pushes. Don't push her to hard just let her move at her own pace.