1106 life and the atomic wedgie

First of all, let me say that I love my parents no matter what. That said, I do have something on my mind.

I'm currently restricted to a wheelchair, due to weakness in my right leg. I can stand up for short periods of time, and I can walk around with the aid of a walker for support. But most of my waking hours are spent either in the wheelchair, or transferring to and from it.

The transfers are easy. I can get into most vehicles with a standing-pivot transfer, and can move between the chair and the tub or toilet the same way. Transfers to and from my bed are more of a lateral transfer, and I can do it quite well by myself.

My parents feel that they need to assist me when I move to and from my bed. My father understands that he just needs to supervise and stands ready to catch me should I start to fall, which is okay with me. But my mother is more "hands-on". She refuses to grasp a belt around my chest, after a fall I had SEVEN MONTHS ago when she tried to support me right after I came home from the hospital. I've become much stronger and I haven't fallen since then.

Instead, she stands behind me and grabs onto the waistband of whatever I'm wearing. Despite my pleas, she pulls upward with all of her strength, even though it is not necessary. As a result, I get a super wedgie that is not easy to recover from. I sometimes feel like my waistband is digging into my armpits.

Ching, it's just like those life vests we wore while floating along the underground river at Xcaret.

If I transfer to my bed, I can straighten out myself quite easily. But if I'm transferring from the bed to the chair .... well, have you ever tried to get rid of a wedgie while sitting down? STOP LAUGHING!! IT'S NOT THAT FUNNY!!

Sometimes, I try to finish the transfer before she comes into the room. Sometimes, I'll tell her I want to sleep another five minutes, then make the transfer after she leaves the room. She wakes up earlier than I do, so she's always hovering around when I wake up. I've tried to explain it, but she doesn't wear her hearing aids all the time. I'll figure something out ..... *sigh*