My mother complains about my father all the time: anyone else?

[TheOriginalSteamingNit]

Let me start by saying I love both my parents very dearly. Both are flawed, both have been amazing.

But my mother, increasingly in recent years although it's always been a bit the case, actually cannot seem to get a sentence out without some complaint about my dad.

I don't know how best to explain: it's just like absolutely any conversation can be steered to my dad , usually having done or suggested some fairly innocuous or even quite generous thing, being presented as his being shit. She does this to colleagues, relatives, my children ... And I think especially me.

I think my dad is a good guy: he irritates me sometimes, but only in the nature of fathers. Is she trying to tell me she's unhappy, and should I do something? Or just nod at the constant moaning from one person I love about another person I love? Or ask her if she realises how much she does this?

My mum used to do the same, and one day, I couldn't bear it any more, and I told her how it made me feel to see dad so hurt by her words. She listened, was absolutely furious with me, but took heed, and things have been much better ever since. Thing is, they ADORE each other and are still very much in love after 45 years of marriage, have seen each other through serious illness and couldn't be apart. It's her way of coping, and he says he'd never want her to change...so from now on, I'll bite my tongue and leave them to it!

Blimey a life time of following someone with a season ticket would do my head in. I mean how many shopping centres must she endure? And when does she ever pick where they go?

Sorry but season ticket holders are a massive bore and would be a passion killer for me. Sorry.