It was a few weeks ago that my Dad was playing with the kids when one of the kids yelled out.
“OW, Grandpa, your nails are so sharp! Be careful!”
I took a look at his hands, and sure enough, his fingernails were a mess. They were all uneven and weird-looking.
Some of his nails were cut too short, and some of his other nails were all crazy and looked like they were cut at strange angles. They felt as sharp as a razor!
But the nails that were cut too short were even worse. They were cut all the way down to the bottom. There were some little cuts and dried blood, and his fingers looked very painful.
“Dad!” I said. “What’s wrong with your fingernails?”
“Oh, my nails are always like that lately. It’s so difficult to cut my nails. I always have a hard time.
Dad told me he used to cut his nails with a small nail scissor, but it had gotten dull and was not very good. Even worse, his arthritis made it really hard for him to use a small scissor.
“I have to bend my wrist into difficult angles when I cut my nails. My arthritis makes it really hard to do.
I just can’t cut my nails easily anymore like when I was younger. The scissors slip and I drop them, and then it’s hard to bend over to find them and pick them up.
“Don’t you have one of those nail clippers that you squeeze? That might be easier.” I said.
Dad showed me his other nail clipper.
“That cheap piece of junk? I bought it at the discount store. It’s made in some crummy factory and it’s harder to use than the scissors. The blades are dull, duller than my nail scissors.
You have to position it just right and squeeze really hard to clip your nails. You don’t have the wrist pain and arthritis that I do. It’s really tough when you get older like I am. Things that seem easy for you young folks are not easy for me!”
“Gee, Dad, I had no idea! Let me help you.”
I took the nail scissors and I carefully trimmed Dad’s nails. I could see what he meant. Even though I was cutting his nails for him, the scissors were dull and they were really hard to use. Dad kept pulling his hands away and grimacing. I could tell it hurt and he was uncomfortable, but finally it was done.
We cleaned Dad’s hands, put on some lotion, and he felt much better.
“Dad, next time we come, I'm going to buy you a much better nail clipper. I’ll find one that’s easier for you to use.”
