We used to sing a little ‘grace’ song in my childhood. It went ‘Thank you for the food we eat, Thank you for the world so sweet, Thank you for the birds that sing, Thank you God for everything’.
You could try singing it with her, and then asking her about one of the things – like what birds have either of you seen, which birds you particularly like. It might be one way to divert - even if a little bit of you thinks ‘Thank you for the pigs that fly’. Have courage! Old age is a real challenge to patience and a sense of humour.
Like Frazzle said, some people are like that and if they have Dementia, you will not get thru to them. Of course, depression is common especially early stages when they know something isn't right. You can't say, well there are worst things because I think this is the worst thing a person can have...losing their mind and who they r.
I have a friend who has been negative all her life. Nothing is her fault its everyone elses. Now she is 69 with diabetes, heart problems and now Parkinson's don't think she will ever see the bright side.
All you can do is try but don't get discouraged if ur efforts don't get results.
With some, you can't, but you can point out the positive to them even despite the negativity. And if it gets to be too much, take a break from it for a little while, if your LO lives with you, and/or if LO is in AL or NH, you can end the visit or call if it gets to be too much.
My mom will find the negative in any situation. I think even if she won a million dollars, she would find something wrong with it! Lol. She has always been that way, but I know her illness (mental illness and dementia) makes her miserable a lot of the time now too. I do try and stay positive and point out the good things, or like for example if she says the meal at her facility was crap, or an outing wasn't fun, I say, "Well, maybe the next one will be better," that type of thing. Sometimes I do though have to tell her I have to go when it gets to be too much, as the negativity can be really draining.
You could try singing it with her, and then asking her about one of the things – like what birds have either of you seen, which birds you particularly like. It might be one way to divert - even if a little bit of you thinks ‘Thank you for the pigs that fly’. Have courage! Old age is a real challenge to patience and a sense of humour.
I have a friend who has been negative all her life. Nothing is her fault its everyone elses. Now she is 69 with diabetes, heart problems and now Parkinson's don't think she will ever see the bright side.
All you can do is try but don't get discouraged if ur efforts don't get results.
My mom will find the negative in any situation. I think even if she won a million dollars, she would find something wrong with it! Lol. She has always been that way, but I know her illness (mental illness and dementia) makes her miserable a lot of the time now too. I do try and stay positive and point out the good things, or like for example if she says the meal at her facility was crap, or an outing wasn't fun, I say, "Well, maybe the next one will be better," that type of thing. Sometimes I do though have to tell her I have to go when it gets to be too much, as the negativity can be really draining.