Blabbermouth

[WinterWonder]

So I’ve upset my elderly mother because when she reminded me not to mention a family pregnancy to someone because it is a secret, I laughed and said it couldn’t really be a secret if they told her (to be clear, I’m not telling anyone). I meant this in fun, but it is true that she just can’t keep certain secrets- case in point, I know about this family pregnancy from her.
She is upset that I think of her like this, but I don’t really know how to row back as it is blatantly true (this is a regular thing). AIBU?

Also any top tips on how to smooth things over gratefully received

Just say you were joking because of the fact she had just told you.

Don't roll back.
I'd start listing all the secrets she's blabbed over the years.

I could try- I tried to make lite at the time and she was horrified.

She’s pretty old- could take ages. She just came over holier than thou at the time about all the very grave secrets she is keeping

She’s pretty old- could take ages. She just came over holier than thou at the time about all the very grave secrets she is keeping

Ah she'll get over it.

My mum's nickname was jungle drums. If you wanted some information spread around you just needed to tell her and wait 12 to 15 seconds. No one told her any actual secrets, that would have been insane 😂

My mum doesn't wait 12 seconds. She's the internet itself.

Perfect time to say oh, secrets like x secret you told me and y secret you told me and z secret you told me. Secrets like that you mean?

My mum drives me batty with her selective memory and rewriting of events but when I challenge her on them she literally pretends I haven't spoken. I keep saying I'm going to repeat myself one day and see how many times I can make the same point before she feels forced to acknowledge that the potted plant she's attending to with such great concentration is simply not that captivating. 🤣

Yes, I thought it was funny. I’m sure she was torn between feeling cross I said it, and also feeling like it wasn’t really much of a secret. She just loves the idea that some info is for her ears only- until she decides who to tell.
she can be really over sensitive though, which is what I’m dreading ongoing

It will blow over but keep your ears open if she blabers.
But i always tell people what's the point in talking if we have to keep secrets.
I like to chat so dont tell me anything if you dont want anyone to know.

I think she sometimes makes something a ‘secret’ just so she can share it- does that make sense? It seems like she loves being the one in the know who can dispense the knowledge.

she is really not happy with me…

Hello are you my sister?? This is definitely my Mum. The pair of us just pacify her and tell her she isn't a blabbermouth. She genuinely thinks she's not a gossip when she blatantly is.

I used to work with someone that we called "heat magazine"

Ha! I messaged my younger sister about it, she said she had been in similar trouble for suggesting telling mother was like putting it ‘in sky writing’. My younger sister who also knows about this secret pregnancy…

Love this