Do you ever feel you have no purpose?

you sound pretty independent, they probably feel good about themselves coming over once a month and think that covers their duty to you. If you feel neglected by them then ask them to check on you more often, etc. they mostly likely will, but you may have to ask them to do this, for you.

Purpose in my mind is something that we must create for ourselves by being pro-active. My daughter & her husband have their lives to live similar to my life in relationship to my own parents. Occasionally our lives intersect but we all seem to live separately. However, my mother - age 91 - is now in assisted living which requires much more of my attention. Fortunately, my daughter has chosen to participated and we meet for lunch once a week with her grandmother. I am not planning on making any demands on my daughter. We rarely talk on the phone and never email. I have no grandchildren. I have - however - taken an interest in friends & some of their children as well as the children of one of my wife's nieces and the contact has been very positive for both sides. I do not find it unusual that in many families the close contacts is not always with parent-child but other members of the family or friends. Seek out those who may be the close members of your support group...

My mother had 6 kids and said she knew she did a good job of being a mother when her kids didn't need her anymore.I try to remember her words since I find some wisdom in them.

My husband and I live overseas often and I know it would be nice to have our only child call us at least once a week but often we are the ones trying to contact him. He seems to only contact us when he has a problem.

I don't think grown children have to take care of their parents but of course it would be nice if they found some time for them in their busy lives.

Perhaps you can get out more by going to a senior center or taking a class in something you are interested in. If you keep yourself busy, you won't be so lonely and you may met some others in your same situation.

No! I never feel this way. My grown children, American born keep in contact with me via email, or facebook, we also speak on the telephone weekly. My wife died and I moved to Colombia, South America. I remarried, adopted three poor children, who are now adults, and have two natural children, aged 10 and 12. I have a great wife. The people in Colombia cherish their mothers and fathers, and their extended families. I like this about their culture. I taught myself Spanish, have friends and at times have to ask them to speak slowly so I can understand. People sometime ask if my children are my grandchildren. My children respond no, he´s my father. My wife is 47 and I am 70. I have recently bought a farm here in Colombia, not for me but for her. I never want her to be poor again. I addition I bought her a five bedroom house. I am not rich. The house cost $ 2,000.00 U.S. and the farm with 7 acres cost $ 2,300 U.S.

Yes, they should call and say Hi, how are you doing but that road does run both ways.

Did you call and talk to your parents or elderly family members? children do what they themselves witnessed while growing up.

I always said my two daughters would find me dead from taking an over-dose of pills because they would get side tracked and forget to come by and check on my but-t-t. I'm taking this over-dose of pills scenario from a soap opera scene from days past. That is how they killed off an actress, she took a lot of pills thinking her son would come in and save her stupid self but her son didn't show up in time and she died.

This is a quote from the Movie Nanny McPhee,"When you need me but don't want me I must stay but when you want me but no longer need me I must go."

i do no longer experience insignifigant, i exploit to, no person might desire to ever might desire to experience that way. I besides as you, have been placed here for reason. it would desire to take a protracted time to be certain why, or possibly we would by no potential be attentive to. i've got confidence we are here to instruct and touch lives. Our existence is a adventure and our purpose for being this is not any greater beneficial or below every person elses. fulfillment isn't approximately racing to the end line, or increasing to the suited. it is with regard to the adventure we took, the instructions we found out, the individuals who's lives we touch, and a few, that we would by no potential be attentive to we did, the hindrances we over got here and had to get around, under and over them to make it to the end line, and from there you keep going. there is completely one guy or woman who you will possibly desire to compete against and that's your self. do no longer difficulty what people think of of you, it is non of your company. It shoul purely rely what you think of of you. So flow out start up your own adventure and make on a daily basis a blessing.

You might consider joining a church. That has helped me. Your kids are probably busy and they don't realize you are lonely. If you were ill, I would say that yes, they have an obligation to take care of you. But since you are well enough to make dinner for them once a month, they aren't worried about you.

Our son and daughter live hundreds of miles away from us and they never call or email us, it is as if we never had children. We have not heard from our son in Alaska for three years, his choice and his wife's. Our daughter and her family live in Alabama and it has been a year since we heard from her. At least hubby and I have each other and our young grandson who will be 11 this month. I was always in touch with my parents until they died. Poppy

To answer your first question, yes I feel that way when I'm alone too much. But all of that changes when I surround myself with my grand children and grand animals. They let me know just how special I am. Even those crazy grandcats have a meow fest when they see me, it cracks me up.

There are two words that come to mind with your question---

Respect and Family The mixing of these two--are the most important thing in my life.

On the lighter side--I'll send you my two granddaughters(15&10) for a while:)

And yes to their obligation to you. I am firm in my beliefs, that's what family is for.