Can't stand my Dad's continual negative comments & sighing all evening

[Pleaseshutupnow]

Someone talk some sense into me please before I explode!!
Father is staying with us. He's a sprightly 80 year old. But all his life has been a glass half full person.

Tonight, and after a few days of it, I can take no more. Every item on teh news is greeted with a sigh or a tut, or just the most negative and depressing comments. I feel like I'm drowning.

I try and keep up beat but It's just continual. I've lived with it all my life but tonight it is too much. I find it really upsetting.
Yes, unsurprisingly, he's had depression, and yes he's one of those who wont get any help. But this has been years and years....

Oops, - I meant glass half empty!

How long will he be staying with you for?

Perhaps you will need to go to bed early for the duration of his stay? Bet you are feeling really tired right now aren't you?

Just a few more days.
Maybe it just flashbacks for me to a childhood blighted by this behaviour. I can't do anything now about it even as an adult.

Ah... you have a 'Dementor'. The type that has the ability to suck all the joy out of life. I sympathise because I have a Dementor DM that my Scottish next-door-neighbour describes as 'dour'. Very apt. I'm afraid the only way I can cope is to stop listening and stop caring. Good luck

Try the Pollyanna approach with her aunt. Say yes it is terrible and up the ante. It will take at least two or more days pref from you all. You will all be overcome by giggles, esp if you have s glass, and he will be surprised.

If it is just a few more days I would do your best to bite your tongue. Make a cup of tea when the news starts, go to bed early, get up a bit later. Are you with him all day or do you get to go out to work in awhich case I would have a meeting which means I have to work late

Ah yes - a Dementor feels apt.
I almost want nothing to come on the Tv for fear of the reaction.
Oh well just few a more days..

So when he says isn't it terrible about the earthquake, you respond, yes, and have you heard that plague is now occurring in Latin America?

And when he says that its the time of year for flu jabs, you point out that if course he must have one but viruses are very clever these days and has he heard about the bed bugs in the US meaning that no one has soft suitcases any more and people are no offer going to the cinema?

All you need is a few Daily Mail stories and you are well away. It can become the new family game...

Doesn't mean you don't love him..

No longer...