Fuzzy Boundaries around Getting Together

[Liketheducks]

Spirited Change,

It seems to me that your parent may not actually be sincere in her/his lamentations. What do you think?

I think they are sincere in wanting to see the version of me from my teens that was flattering and enmeshed, and the (hypothetical) version of their grandkids that would be a repeat of that.  I think they keep expecting me to show up the way I was 20 years ago. 

OMG....ding, ding, ding.   We have a winner!   This is my mother in a nutshell.    And, I'll add, she is emotionally still the person she was at 18.