My dad had knee surgery recently. My Mom is doing a great job of taking care of him, but I've been going over every two or three days to pitch in with the household chores.
My dad and I have never been very close. He worked a lot of overtime, so I ended up spending a lot of evenings with my mom growing up.
I wish we had a better and closer relationship. A part of me had hoped that this surgery would give us time to spend together and become a bit closer. But every time I sit down to try to connect with him, he's more interested in watching the television than talking. I'll ask him how he's doing or about the show he's watching, and he only says a few words. He doesn't really reciprocate in our conversation.
I'm saddened that we aren't closer, and I'm worried that we'll never have the kind of relationship I'd love to have with my dad.