I’m having trouble with my mum (help!)

My mum has astigmatism (round things look like footballs) and is also short-sighted. I think she's a bit long-sighted too actually, but the short-sightedness is more of a concern. She's getting increasingly more short-sighted and I'm concerned that she shouldn't be driving. At 1 1/2 metre distance, she can't discern between peas and lettuce on a plate; and she goes to a small community church and has to sit in the front row to read the words on the overhead projector screen

I have been talking with her about it (applying pressure ) but it seems that she doesn't want to get glasses and she's just stalling the inevitable. Apparently she didn't like the optometrist's advice last time she was tested (not sure if his advice was funny or if she didn't understand him properly?) and is waiting for her eyes to get worse before looking into things again.

Anyway I'm pretty sure that she said she last got her eyes tested at the beginning of this year but she dropped the name of the optom company she visited, so I rang them today so ask whether she did need glasses for driving or not. (I know that's Privacy Act stuff, but shhhh the receptionist didn't know!! ) Anyway, they said her last check-up was 2 years ago , and back then her eyes were ok to drive. I wonder if the test at the beginning of this year was her drivers licence test - you know, the crappy unreliable one at the AA which it sounded like she just scraped through.

Anyway, I think I've reached a dead end. She doesn't want to fork out the money for new glasses until at least Christmas (actually I think she's not even going to start saving for them until then!), and there's no way I'm going to buy her glasses for her. Dad said they have enough in savings but he's too weak-kneed to confront her and make the decision to buy her glasses. But I think she's a danger on the road.

So (after all that background - sorry!), the big question is, what would you do? Would you dob in your own mother to the AA for the sake of her safety, even if it could cost her a bit more? (ie if they found out she needed glasses for driving, she would have to get a new licence that states that, I presume - instead of just waiting until it next ticked over.) I'm not sure what to do!

Yeah, I second the "go with her" thing, thats the only way I can get my mum to do important things, if she (bothers to) go on her own, she only hears what she wants to hear and interprets the rest how she likes, which is usually "they are wrong and talked down to me".

I recently had to take things in hand with my own mother which involved an "almost" breech of her privacy, but I had to do it for her own sake, and she won't ever find out, but the people who needed to know what I had to say now do, and I'm not stressing out anymore.

Mothers, huh?
And how bout your dad growing a backbone!! lol!! (mine didn't have one either, when it came to "she who must be obeyed")

If she is eligible (and it's a money concern) I think WINZ helps out with money for glasses as an interest free loan. Don't know if that helps?

Why don't you go and show her the funky options available?

I have glasses and I'm SUPER cool

P.S. Just read Stacey's reply - I like that idea

Annie - LOL at dads! When I told him he needed to "be strong" about this issue, he told me that she's being telling him off lately for "always bossing her around" LMAO!!!

Nikki - oh not funky. She's an "old" mama. Her ideal glasses would be big and round (so she doesn't have to turn her head for peripheral) and with gold frames.

*blood goes cold*

I sure hope you are kidding, Nikki!