What is the biggest challenge you're facing?

 For me its trying to start and have meaningful conversations with my dad.  He is so quick to shut down and get defensive.   And its challenging for me to not to go to extremes.  On the one hand to get pushy with him about what he should do, or on the other hand, wanting to just give up trying.

I was just thinking about this discussion today after trying to help my parents arrange a boating trip.  I think one of the most challenging things for me is not projecting what I want for them on them but rather respsect what they want for themselves.  I get hung up, alot, on my dad missing out on life because he's content to sleep 16 hours a day and spend the other 8 watching TV.  But when he's given loads of other opportunities and support and he still chooses sleeping and watching TV it must be what he wants. 

I find it challlenging to get a clear sense of how well my step-dad is doing. Is he really managing well?  He seems coherent, but sometimes I get little hints of things, and wonder if I'm reading more into it then I should, or not enough...  full of second guessing.  And because he's a 2 hour plane ride away its sometimes hard to say.