My mother is 77 and is starting to show her age but has not been diagnosed with any age-related conditions. I live with my parents due to a trauma I experienced at age 32 and they have been very supportive. Standing up to people is very hard for me. I am a beginning caregiver and very lucky that I have wonderful parents. My mother sometimes snaps at me and my father - for various reasons but it makes me see red. Once when she asked who I was talking to, I said something like "I am not sure why you are asking me that?" And she got mad and said that I was being touchy. Any suggestions? Thank you!!!!
My husband does the same to me but at the same time is annoyed if I continue to talk in his presence. Annoying but really not worth upseting yourself abou. if she is going through private papers or opening mail that is a really serious issue and she would need to be confronted. In that case I would recomend renting a PO box
If I was trying to hide something from them, then I might not want them to know, but since my life is an open book, I simply say...."It's just April." To me there is no big problem and I don't mind responding. Now if your mother ridicules you or has bad things to say when certain people call, I would just say....."It's (whomever she likes)," and then I would walk away to have my conversation if I could.
It really is no ones business who we are speaking to, but honestly it is not worth arguing over either. You are in your 30's and I am in my 60's....it doesn't get any better, we just have to pick our fights and this one just is not a good fight as far as I am concerned!
Best Wishes!
I do give my phone number to Mom's doctors, because I'm now managing all that, but friends and relatives have her number and she and they can call as they wish. One other issue is that when one person hogs the phone, the others get a little touchy, just as with the TV. Yet one more good reason not to share.
If it's confidential or crucial, don't attempt the call when your mother's in the room or likely to come in. She's bound to start talking just as you're trying to hear something vital - that's Sod's Law, not your mother's fault.
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