Told with both poignancy and humor, Because She's My Mother follows an adult daughter's bittersweet struggles--to balance her life, face loss and let go--as she cares for her aging mother.
When Act I opens, the elderly Ida has fallen at home and telephones her daughter Liz for help. The hospital determines that Ida is only bruised and can return home, but this event nonetheless sets in motion a series of conflicts: between Ida and Liz about whether Ida can continue to live safely at home; between Liz and her husband Roger about Liz putting their lives on hold as long as she remains so preoccupied with Ida’s well-being; between Liz and her estranged sister Ellen who refuses to help; and between Liz and her conscience about doing the “right” thing and her fear of Ida dying. By Act II, Ida has been hospitalized again, and Liz is forced to move her into an assisted-living residence. Conflicts now center on: Ida and Liz’s changing relationship as Liz tries to set new boundaries; Ida’s efforts to face up to the reality of aging and dependency; and Liz and Roger trying to reclaim their lives.