Janet???

[gja1000]

It really is very stressful and even moreso, overwhelming. Then throw in a hard-headed mom, and well.......you have every reason to cry Janet. Yes, your mom should have had more consideration for you and your schedule - but she didn't so just make the best of it - as you are already doing, because, as you said, it gives you a great break till next Friday.

My mom can be really disrespectful too sometimes. Also, there is another thing to consider. As we age, the part of our brain that helps us to be socially respectful of others, doesn't work as well. That's why you hear old people sometimes say the most disrespectful things. My mom will say something horrible about someone else and then say something like, "Well, I'm old so I can say that". What it is really, is the part of the brain that helps us to NOT say the things we are sometimes thinking, doesn't work as well in old people so they just blurt out what they are thinking and they think it is OK. It's actually called Executive Function and it doesn't fully develop until after adolescence (that's why kids say the darndest things) and it begins to deteriorate as we get old.

This is all to say that there is an organic reason why your mom behaves this way - even though she may have been somewhat this way all her life (I don't know), but it does get worse with everyone as they age.

Hang in there! You won't feel quite so overwhelmed as things progress.

[DianaB]

Janet, I'm so sorry that you're so overwhelmed. I thought about calling you several times while I was on vacation, and even left a message on your answering machine. I'm so glad that Gayle is back and is giving you advice to help you through all of this. I know that it's all hard but it's nice to know that there's a light at the end of the tunnel. I'm here for you any time you need to talk. Hugs!!!!

[Janet]

I just played the answering machine after reading your post. Looks like someone listened to it but forgot to tell me. GGGRRRRRRRR!