When Bob Morris' mother passed away, he reluctantly agreed to help his 80-year-old father reenter the dating world. The relationship that grew in the process between the father and son is the subject of Bob's book, Assisted Loving. Peter talks with Bob about mending his relationship with his father and his tips for Baby Boomers whose parents are back in the dating game.
Bob says that he and his father didn't always have the best relationship. "I tried so hard, my whole life, to steer clear of much involvement with him," he says. "For all of the annoyance that I felt from him for no good reason, I have to say that I was picky and critical and mean-spirited about little things."
Bob says he helped his father pursue romantic interests after he understood what he was searching for. "Of course it was inappropriate that he was looking for love so quickly after my mom went," he says. "But he also told me that it worked so beautifully with her for 50 years and that he had to do it again."
Bob offers advice for adult children on how to deal with their parents dating again.
Find it funny. "Turn on the judgment machine and you are in huge trouble," he says.
Listen. Have really big ears and let him vent, Bob says. "Try pretending that you're back in college and listening to your hilarious best friend who just came off of a terrible date," he says.
Help your parents with manners and class. "If you have better taste than your parents, help them out in a cheerful way, not a critical way," Bob says. For example, Bob disagreed with his father using a toothpick at the table while on a date.
