KIN AUDIO LISTENING POST PROJECT

Gathering the thoughts of middle-aged sons and daughters with those of their ageing parents, Rutherford brought their experiences to life through Listening Posts that toured the Waiting Rooms of Health Centres and Hospitals around Glasgow.

 

Guardian article in Society section: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/mar/16/donna-rutherford-kin-audio-artwork-nhs

(daughter) When I say “Let me help with that” it isn’t me saying “You can’t do it” it’s me saying “Let me help with that” –  (mum) Yes I do understand where she’s coming from but there are times I feel it diminishes me as a person... “

Two separate audio clips can be found at: http://www.vimeo.com/22286252

 

 

“You never lose that dynamic of a parent child relationship. I’ll always be her wee boy, even though am almost 42! – she still refers to me as her wee boy...”

 “My mum certainly feels much, much younger in her head.  I mean everybody probably feels about 28/ 30 don’t they, in their head, then they’re body sort of starts to go...”

“I had a very youthful mother and when she turned 70 I saw a complete change in her and I used to say to her “Mum come on, what’s wrong with you..?”  Now I can feel myself just beginning to slow up, thinking  I really can’t go at that speed anymore...”

 

Participating centres included:

New Victoria Hospital; Drumchapel West Centre; New Stobhill Hospital; Elderpark Clinic; Govan Health Centre; Lightburn Hospice; Barrhead Health Centre

“I had to accept that –that there were these limitations and mum wasn’t able to do and move and act as she was able to as a free agent”

“There's an easiness now... I can understand her more as a woman - the older I’ve got, thinking of her at the same stage or age as I’ve been or am.  Thinking “oh blimey – what was it like when you were approaching 60...”

 

“I think honesty is really important but difficult sometimes.  Sometimes you have to pretend you’re more concerned, more worried than you actually are.  Or pretending that everything is normal, when things are clearly not”

 

“I did get a chance to say goodbye to my father, it’s something you wouldn’t really think about, but I did get a chance to say goodbye to him and it wasn’t as awful as you think it might be.  I feel quite privileged that I did get that opportunity in such a short space of time...”