Axl, I'd have a hard time writing the pages between events. It's easier using the dark side just to add some comic relief.
Now I follow what's happening, the Peter Principle in action. Just remind him, if he decides to take the position (translated, you allow it), is to make sure he surrounds himself with people that can cover for whatever inadequacies he has in his role. With the proper planning and a little luck, you can hide your "cracks" right up to retirement. If not, you have a big mortgage and no hope that you'll ever find a job to adequately fund your investments.
Once I realized that my skill set didn't fit my companies vision of what they wanted in the next position up, I looked to insure my "business" (financial position) was strong enough to withstand the inevitable and looked for the most financially beneficial exit strategy. Thus I stated my desire to retire 3 years before I turned 55 to the President in charge of IT (a strategy my boss lambasted me for, but insured it difficult to move me before I was ready). Then when a RIF was announced 3 years later and they wanted me to stay, I worked very hard to insure I was included. Exactly one week after my 55th birthday, I went to work, got called into my boss's office and was informed I got the package. That was my last drive to gainful employment and I've never looked back.
The epilogue to this story is that the 40 something fellow that I would have reported to had I stayed (almost the entire existing staff got the package) lasted less than a year. Stress kills and he wasn't made for that environment. That stress would have been laid on me either before or after his heart attack. I couldn't have planned my exit any better.
*an after thought in re-thinking what I just wrote* Can you imagine adding the above to the mom situation, I didn't even think of that until I wrote the above.
