To give you a very simple example.
I had called the chimney sweep, and he was supposed to come in mid-December.
I had warned my mother not to light a fire in the fireplace before the sweeping. That evening, she called me to say something was wrong with the chimney. She said she had been cold and just wanted to warm up a little, so she had lit a fire in the fireplace.
I immediately understood the problem and called the fire department, going to see her right away.
The chimney flue was glowing red-hot, and the firefighters arrived 30 minutes later.
Fortunately, the fire hadn't had time to spread in the chimney. But there had been a chimney fire.
So, I spent the entire month of December buying and processing all the paperwork for a new fireplace, meeting with everyone for the installation, and so on.
And it all ended on January 6, 2026, when the workers came to do the work.
So, no fire in the fireplace for Christmas or New Year's.
And this is just one small example of what I now have to do and manage to take care of my mother.