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Mum talks at me and never to me

3 replies

LifeonMarss · 06/06/2022 09:27

Looking for advice or some solidarity because it's become so much worse recently.
For background I did not have a good childhood, mum was very critical of me , expected me to act like an adult when I was a child and was quite neglectful. Moved out with my boyfriend when I was 18 and have lived with him ever since. I went through a period of a year or two without speaking to mum but that was about six years ago.
My issue is I cant actually remember the last time she asked how I was or what I was doing. Every conversation we have is centred around her, If I didn't volunteer info she would have no idea what was happening in my life and the odd time I manage to talk about me she will give me a one word reply and move back onto herself and it's always about the same thing usually to do with work or the gym and even when I say "oh I remember you mentioning it" she will say "have you told DP about it" and then go on to talk to him about it, she forgets things that I've told her about my life because she hasn't listened and just laughs it off and expects me to drop things in my life for her despite never doing the same for me (even as a child, I wouldn't expect her to do it now) she's also recently started making passive aggressive comments about how I don't enjoy being around people (not true) and how I never go to the gym (I have no time and I prefer walking but even if I didn't how is it her business as it's not coming from a place of concern) I feel like the last time she knew anything about me was when I was a teenager and she thinks I'm still the same person I was when I was 15. If I message her with an update about my life she ignores it but is constantly messaging me pointless updates about her/something she has done.
Its so draining and I find myself getting upset after being around her or talking to her. She has friends and speaks to her brother most days so I don't think its loneliness.
Does anyone have a parent similar and how do you cope?

OP posts:
Tigerblue4 · 06/06/2022 10:56

My Mum talks at us constantly, and half of it's about people she's fallen out with as they don't see her way! I can put the phone down and she doesn't realise I'm not even listening, as she doesn't draw breath so we don't need to speak. To be honest I don't see her as much as I should as it's mind numbing. Sometimes she'll comment that my eyes are glazed over while she's talking, but it's very hard to stay focused.

She'll be phoning later as she needs to talk to doctor (fair enough). We've had a rough weekend (DD lucky to come through the other side of intensive care) and not even sure I'll tell her. I'll have to talk over her to say whatever, something so serious will probably be met with one sentence in reply before she goes back to herself. It's so hard and I'm dreading the fact she's going to need more time in old age.

AssignedSlytherinAtBirth · 06/06/2022 11:12

Some people are just self-centred and don't have the normal conversation skills that other people have. I'm sorry your mum isn't interested - it's probably best to limit your time with her and listen and say "That's nice" every now and then. MIL was like this for years - would rant on about something for 20 mins on the phone until I'd say I'd got to go out, or whatever. Funnily enough, since I've had Covid she has started asking me how I am - it's almost as if I've suddenly become interesting! But she never asks about her Dgch. My cousin wouldn't know my dch's names - I kid you not because she only talks about herself.
So I'm just trying to say I'm sorry your mum is like this. It's her loss. Just work on and value your friendships with people who do actually care.

BashfulClam · 06/06/2022 17:00

Yep both mum and mil. My mum drivels on about her neighbour who I don’t know. She tells you the same thing eachbtinecc bc and you say ‘yes you told us before’ but she still has to finish. She also makes up weird stories and threatened to hit me one Christmas for telling her she was wrong and 3 other people saying she was talking nonsense. Now if I mention it she’ll say ‘I never said that, must have been someone else!’ It makes me want to scream! I bet if asked she couldn’t tell you where I work or what I do for a living.

Dh just sits the phone down while mil witters on and on. Again she couldn’t tell you our jobs or where we work.

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