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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Miss Manners 7/8

By Judith Martin, Nicholas Ivor Martin and Jacobina Martin ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am staying at home with my two teenage daughters. My parents, who live about 10 minutes away, are elderly and very vulnerable to the virus. They are observing strict quarantine and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.

I have been doing all their errands for them: delivering groceries, picking up medications, bringing over home-cooked meals etc. Given that they are also forgetful, this sometimes requires me going over there two or three times a day, maintaining social distance from my dad on the porch while he wipes down my purchases, or talking to my mother by phone while waving at her bedroom window.

Believe it or not, this has been my pleasure, and I’m happy I have the time and opportunity to help them.

Now my parents are talking about taking me away for a vacation when “this is all over,” as a thank-you. I don’t want to go. I’m a single mom, and although I have not lost my job (I can telecommute), I don’t have a lot of savings. I can think of many better ways to use the money that would be spent on this trip.

Also, due to their age and (probably) fear and uncertainty, my parents bicker. A lot. A month with them would be me running and fetching and carrying and acting as a sounding board/referee. It wouldn’t be a vacation for me at all.

If we go to the beach, as they are hinting, my mother would stay in the rental property, and either my dad or I would have to stay with her at all times. I would be cooking the meals, playing board games with them, sharing cleaning and laundry chores with my dad, shopping, etc.

How do I escape this not-vacation?

GENTLE READER: The same way you avoided coming to the dinner table as a child: by claiming you will be there any minute. More specifically, Miss Manners is suggesting you quibble over the date, not the premise: “I would love to, but with everything that has happened, this year just is not going to work.”

Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website missmanners.com.