I was going to visit my dad today. When I called my mom last night regarding her medicine, she reminded me I had promised to go to her place for dinner. (My parents are divorced.) Darn. So when I called my dad this morning to tell him I wasn’t going to come visit, I thought about just telling him I wasn’t feeling well. That would have been easy, and dishonest.

Instead I explained that I had forgotten about the previous event I had agreed to attend. I also told him that I felt bad that he always got trumped by my mom. He understood since she lives close to me, and I have become her “caretaker”. Still I am not happy that I can’t work things out where I can see him, and not have my weekends tied up visiting my parents.

I sound ungrateful. That’s not the case. I would just like more balance, and some help from my siblings.