My MIL is 82. We are in our mid 50's. She can still drive, cook, go out with friends, plays cards, lives alone and is having a very good retirement. All that being said she's the type who wants to control certain people in the family. One being my wife. We aren't even retired and she has something to say about every time we do go somewhere. It better not be on anyone's birthday, Mother's Day, Father's Day ( even though he's passed), Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter.
She is treated very well by everyone of her kids. The guilt trip is disgusting in our opinion. She's enjoying hers life immensely in her Golden years. But forcing her demands on us gets on our nerves. We work and don't have the luxury to do everything we like. We made the mistake of taking her to Hawaii a couple times with us, needless to say the trip wasn't as exciting as we hoped it would be.
My wife was diagnosed with CLL late last spring. She hasn't told her mother because she'll drive her nuts. My MIL could outlive my wife. Bottom line, your parents have had there time on this earth. No one is saying ignore them. But you need to do what makes the two of you happy. You never know when it's your time and what you missed out on. This is what is planned for my wife and I. My wife and our happiness is paramount for whatever years she has left.
