To have got really irate and snappy with my mother?

[ChickenSkin]

I took my mother to my grandad's house today. So we get in the car and she immediately tells me that my grandmother is unhappy with me as I never make time to go and see her. This irritates me for various reasons but anyway, I tell my mother that I'm quite annoyed at that. A bit further down the road a van stopped at the roundabout in front of me. I saw it stop and press on my brakes gently - well the car decides it doesn't want to stop and carries on hurtling towards this van. I think "shit!" and start to pump on the brakes and because we're now inches from the back of the van, I steer left (wrong thing to do, I know) and the car skids towards the side of the road and finally comes to a stop. I have no idea why the brakes didn't work but they didn't. The car skidded on something and I had no control over it.

So I get passed the round about and pull over at the side of the road to regain composure.

My mother then starts her usual nagging spree ....

mum - "That happened because you were upset didn't it?"
me - "no, the brakes didn't work for some reason"
mum - "was it because of what your grandma said?"
me - "no! it was the brakes that failed to stop the car!"
mum - "oh you're getting yourself all upset because of what I told you"
me - "The car didn't stop when I hit the breaks, THATS the problem"
mum - "maybe I shouldn't talk to you when you're driving as you're obviously distracted. Don't worry about what your grandma said ... "

FOR FUCKS SAKE MAN!

I ended up snapping "It was the fucking brakes!!"

So she goes quiet .... BUT the very same thing happened a few months back on a bus coming home from Wales:

mum - "do you want to come back to my house for tea before you go home?"
me - "err yeah ok, thanks"
mum - "oh! I'm tired, I was hoping to have a rest!"
me - "its ok then, I'll go home"
mum - "oh here we go! getting all offended because you think I don't want you"
me - "what?? you just said you're tired!"
mum - "I offered didn't I???"
me - "well I'll come back then!"
mum - "what you in a mood for? are you tired?"
me - "yes"
mum - "why don't you want to come back?"
me - "I do!"
mum - "not what you said a minute ago .... "

Jesus H Christ. Why does she go out of her way to wind me up???

You carried on driving with faulty breaks?

No it wasn't the brakes in the end, it was something on the road that made it slippery.

To be fair, you both sound a bit touchy.

Some people just rub each other up the wrong way

It sounds like you two do.

Oh Chickenskin I do sympathise - your mum sounds very much like mine:
I regularly invite them (dm and dd)for lunch on Sunday (I love cooking). Every week they decline (thsy like their home comforts). That's fine.
This week...
Mum: Would you like to come for lunch next Sunday?
Me: Sorry Mum, I'm working nightshifts Sat and Sun so can't.
Mum: OK
2hrs later...
Sister: Mum's really upset that you 'refused' her invitation to Easter Sunday lunch. All the family will be there.
Me: I'm working. I can't.
Sister: Well Mum thinks you should change your shifts - she's really upset. She said she's not going to bother inviting you again.
AARGGHHHHH!!!

i think i remember you posting about the bus conversation at the time. or maybe there is someone else who had exactly the same conversation with their mum.

she sounds like hard work!! i agree that maybe you and her are a clash of personalities (like me and my mum) and it will just be a case of breathing deeply and biting your tongue until you can get away from her and let out a big scream.