My dad is 78, and over the last couple of years he has come to Sunday dinners less and less. He quit sitting through my kids' games too. There was always some excuse to head out early or skip it entirely.
I assumed he was simply aging and slowing down. I didn't want to press the matter.
One day I finally put the question to him. It turned out that sitting had become truly painful — within roughly 20 minutes in any chair, his lower back and tailbone would begin aching. He said rising was the hardest bit. Standing up after a long stretch seated had become a moment he feared.
He had simply accepted it in silence as a part of aging and never mentioned it.
I came across a cushion named MediGel with a cutout right under the tailbone, so that spot gets zero pressure. I bought one for his recliner and another for the car.
To be honest I wasn't expecting much. Yet these days he stays at the table longer during dinner. Last month he watched my son's whole football game and never once asked to go.
Riding home, he said "I'd forgotten how it feels to simply sit down somewhere without giving it a thought."
A seat cushion getting me teary was not on my bingo card, yet here I am.
If your parent has been silently skipping activities — consider asking them why. 🙏













