Can you give us more information? Do you live with mom? Does she have dementia?
My mom repeats herself but I don't live with her. So when she asks me the same thing 4X in five minutes, I'll just say, "mom we've already talked about that" and go on to ask her about something else. It's very frustrating for both of us, I'm sure! I think my mom wants to fill space with conversation, so says what pops into her head and unfortunately she's only got a couple of things in her head to talk about, so it's the same things over and over. I'll go to the other room or leave if it gets too bad.
You could also put on headphones if you want quiet (and you live with mom) or just leave the room. Or direct the conversation in a way you want it to go. Hugs to you, as it's very hard on everyone involved.
I've found the best way is to redirect the conversation after it gets to be too much. If your mother has dementia or is just getting old, getting onto her for repeating herself may make her sad or angry. Redirecting the conversation is much better at avoiding hard feelings.
I've been living with my mother over 5 years now, so there's little that she says that I haven't heard many times before. Going over the same memories and thoughts is something that comes with age, especially when our parent doesn't have an active life where they are forming more memories. Dementia, of course, makes the repetition worse. It is hard not to get irritable and sometimes we all have cross moments. We're only human. Redirecting thoughts or walking away are much better than trying to correct the behavior. They are still communicating and we wouldn't want them to become reluctant to do that.
Shelley, repeating how? Same question/story every couple of days, or the same questions/stories every 5 minutes?
My Dad retells the same thing just about every time I call him daily. He is starting to have some short term memory issues, but I think in my Dad's case he isn't seeing or doing anything new to talk about.... my Mom is almost deaf now so there isn't a lot of conversations between the two of them. I think if my parents had moved to a retirement village being around a lot of people from their own generation, Dad wouldn't be repeating worn out stories, he would have new things to tell.
If it's getting your mother not to repeat herself, then duct tape.
If it's not being driven bananas by it, then there are many more humane strategies, from redirection to courteously absenting yourself for a few minutes to go and punch a cushion or kick a tree. But eschew any idea that you might be able to make your mother realise, somehow, that she is repeating herself: this is a brain function problem, and you cannot cure it or train her out of it.
The search function revives old threads with ease. I think it is totally okay, since old threads are still relevant. The only thing is I don't think the OP would be needing any advice anymore. None given here. :)
My mom repeats herself but I don't live with her. So when she asks me the same thing 4X in five minutes, I'll just say, "mom we've already talked about that" and go on to ask her about something else. It's very frustrating for both of us, I'm sure! I think my mom wants to fill space with conversation, so says what pops into her head and unfortunately she's only got a couple of things in her head to talk about, so it's the same things over and over. I'll go to the other room or leave if it gets too bad.
You could also put on headphones if you want quiet (and you live with mom) or just leave the room. Or direct the conversation in a way you want it to go. Hugs to you, as it's very hard on everyone involved.
I've been living with my mother over 5 years now, so there's little that she says that I haven't heard many times before. Going over the same memories and thoughts is something that comes with age, especially when our parent doesn't have an active life where they are forming more memories. Dementia, of course, makes the repetition worse. It is hard not to get irritable and sometimes we all have cross moments. We're only human. Redirecting thoughts or walking away are much better than trying to correct the behavior. They are still communicating and we wouldn't want them to become reluctant to do that.
My Dad retells the same thing just about every time I call him daily. He is starting to have some short term memory issues, but I think in my Dad's case he isn't seeing or doing anything new to talk about.... my Mom is almost deaf now so there isn't a lot of conversations between the two of them. I think if my parents had moved to a retirement village being around a lot of people from their own generation, Dad wouldn't be repeating worn out stories, he would have new things to tell.
If it's getting your mother not to repeat herself, then duct tape.
If it's not being driven bananas by it, then there are many more humane strategies, from redirection to courteously absenting yourself for a few minutes to go and punch a cushion or kick a tree. But eschew any idea that you might be able to make your mother realise, somehow, that she is repeating herself: this is a brain function problem, and you cannot cure it or train her out of it.
Sigh!
M88
CM does have a way with words, doesn't she! LOL