Mom is doing pretty well. She's 89 now, still walking twice a day and living on her own. We talk every day and I take her on an outing at least once a week. Her health and her mind seem pretty good to me. However, she has a habit now that is really bothering me. A couple of years ago, she started saying thank you thank you thank you a lot. Three times in a row. And I'd say you're welcome. But over the past few months, she has increased her thank you's when I am with her. Every few minutes as a matter of fact. I've tried to explain that one thank you means a lot but several are overwhelming. And I can see that she doesn't really understand why saying so many thank yous are a bad thing. I try to divert the conversations and move away from thank you as best I can.
Writing this of course I'm feeling really stupid. What on earth could be wrong with a mom who says thank you all the time? There are so many worse problems out there. But, it makes being with her difficult. I want to be compassionate. At this point, should I just let these thank yous go? Not respond? Say you're welcome? Attempt to explain again that one good thank you means a lot, but many overwhelm me - this doesn't seem to work. How can I be compassionate to mom and still hold onto my own patience and give her the best quality interaction we can have?
Thank you for help with what seems like a silly little issue.
Beth
I agree,maybe ignore her.
Can't count how many times I put 'cotton in my ears'!! After a while, my husband stopped repeating because I stopped responding. Your mom probably does not know she is repeating. Patient forgets from one second to another. Nice to know that she is grateful. Irritating as it is, it is nice to know she is thankful.
We are all in this together. Keep calm and carry on.
Next time it could well be you answering me :~) Such is the versatility of this great forum.
Keep hanging in and holding on, even if it's only by the nail of one pinky someone will be along directly to throw you a rope and give you a hug.
Great news my end :~) I've been trying since Mid Nov to get BIL to have a much needed fasting blood test. He's done it! A friend told him it might be a good idea so he did it!!!
i was shocked at how many times she told me " thank you " in her last year of life . in hindsight , its because i respected her judgement so much that i let her final word trump all the other douches ( hospice losers ) in our life , and she appreciated having control over people who didnt know s@it from shinola ..
BUT , i understand .. we had a parrot and my demented ( bipolar , schitzo - affective , paranoid personality complex , mother in the home .
repetitiveness was so rampant that im sure i sounded like the parrot at times too ..