Until the Day My Mother Forgets Me — Reflections from LINE Conversations with My 90-Year-Old Mother Saturday, July 18, 2026 (Reiwa 8)

Today, I had a LINE conversation with my 90-year-old mother, who lives in a care facility in Nara.

The first things my mother always asks are the same.

“Are you doing well?”  
“How is Makoto?”  
“How are Y and A?”

It has become difficult for her to remember new events.

But the feeling of caring about her family is still there.

My mother was once the person who supported our family.

When she was young, she studied despite having limited resources, entered high school, and carried the hopes of her family on her shoulders.

Even after she married, she continued to care for elderly family members and kept working for the sake of those around her.

I had always believed that my mother was a strong person.

That is why, when I see her gradually losing the ability to do things she once could, I feel a deep sadness.

Everyone eventually moves from being the person who supports others to the person who needs support.

Just as my mother protected me in the past, perhaps now it is my turn to watch over her.

Sometimes I wonder:

If the day comes when my mother looks at me and says,

“Who are you?”

what will I do?

But for now, my mother can still ask me:

“Are you doing well?”

I want to treasure this time when those words are still possible.

The time between parents and children does not continue forever in the same form.

That is why I want to cherish the small connection that exists between us today.

#AgingParents  
#Caregiving  
#Dementia  
#ParentAndChild  
#My90YearOldMother  
#LoveForFamily