Mpm's greatest past time is to dig through drawers and old boxes. When she finds something insignificant she shows it to me and comes up with some ridiculous story about about it. It is always something that she has had in her possession forever and she has just forgotten about it. I get very annoyed and impatient with mom when she does this. I know this isn't going to stop so can anyone give me advice on how to deal with this?
My mom was also a hoarder and the stories attached to the meaningless, troublesome crap were really tiring.
I would create diversions for myself when she started up 'I heard my phone...' and usually when I returned to the room she had forgotten about it.
The thing that I had to let go of was my mom trying to tell me stuff about when I was a baby. (I was adopted) Apparently there was a lot of drama and mom knew the players but never told me and of course now she can't tell me because it all comes out sideways since mom as aphasia. you can't make up or down out of it and it will make you nuts trying.
This is part of the 'crazy making' behavior of the disease and we have to do what we can to protect ourselves whether that's walking out of the room, screaming into a towel or hiding your mom's boxes!
I guess the hardest is to let go of it. We always listened to our moms and dads whether we did as we were told or not and now that they don't make any sense as they talk to us it's upsetting. That's one of the reasons I think it's so annoying to us.
You're not alone by a long shot. I bet a lot of caregivers will respond.
Good Luck,
Bobbie