So most days she's not chatty.  Hell, some days she's silent.  But sometimes she gets a hair up her ass and decides to run her mouth and annoy me.  

No, I am not referring to her just talking to me normally, I am referring to her actually running her mouth.  Like, nonstop.  And that's the type of mood she's been in lately.  We take her to go her blood taken (to recheck for anemia, and I am glad it came back normal) and I was also getting my blood taken and I was trying to talk to my husband about something and she she kept interjecting her thoughts on what I was saying.  Even though she had no idea what I was talking about.  Then she did it all the way home and when we got home she kept bothering me nonstop and yesterday (the day after) she kept bothering me, too.  Telling me about things that really were not anything anyone would care about.  I was washing dishes and she gets out her brand new jeans I just bought her and said "Can you touch this?"  I reply "No, I am washing dishes.  Why, what's wrong with them?"  She replies "Are they the same jeans you always buy?"  "Yes."  "Oh, because these are thinner."  Sigh.  Glad to see 'ol mom is back, the complainer.  I said "What does it matter?"  She says "Oh it doesn't!  I was just thinking you may have been spending extra money on them when they aren't as good at the other jeans!"  I rolled my eyes.  "Do they cover your legs?  Yes?  Then that's all that matters.  Thank you, but I need to get back to washing dishes now."  

Sigh. 

This is her MO.  This is what she does.  She get's one iota of herself back and she's back right to being a jerk about the things I do for her.  She has to bitch about everything.

The other day I took her to get her haircut and she leaves the salon and says "Okay, where else will you take me now?" I said "I have a shit ton of things to do, so we need to go home.  I have appointments and errands to run."  She stomps her feet and puts on a pouty face and says "Boy, I never get to do nothing!"  I said "YOU ARE WELCOME.  I just took you to get your haircut, and that's not good enough for you.  Okay then."  She still complains about anything to do for her.  So, when I do nothing, it's the only time I get the bliss of her being a good person to me.  When I give her things, she complains.  So, why do I even try?  

Living with an aging narcissist is like living with a perpetual four-year-old brat.  Not just a regular four-year-old, but a bratty one.  A complainer about everything.  A whiney little baby.  Granted, her whining is way less often, but it's still there.  Reminding me of years of torment.  

But I take in stride now.  I don't obsess about it.  I just laugh that she's still in there, bitching and complaining on the inside.  

I will say that from now I on I need to say "We are getting your haircut today and that's it.  Please don't ask to go elsewhere."  Or "I am taking you to go buy books, but we are ONLY buying books today.  Please don't fill up your cart with $100 worth of crap.  Today it's just about books.  And if you need new shirts."  Or whatever.  I need to be upfront and warn her first and maybe that will help.  She will complain beforehand and I can say "Well, if you're going to complain, we don't need to go.  Be grateful you get to go pick out your own books, etc.".  She will change her tune real quick.  Or I can say "We are going to the store to buy books today, and only books.  And if you complain about that, we won't go at all."  I won't even give her the chance to complain then.  I like that idea.  

She's been bugging my kids, too, with her mouth diarrhea (um, putting it that way sounds so much worse LMAO).  I am hoping she settles down again soon.  Mental illness is like this.  I am not sure if this is her version of manic (as she's always had these episodes) or what, but it's always something we, as a family, need to get through.  It's not fun, and sometimes she will do crazy things during these episodes.  She used to go on shopping sprees during these times, too, but thankfully, she has no access to money anymore (something she recently "demanded" again, when my husband talked to her doctor about her quitting smoking).  I buy her everything she needs and I take her to specific stores where she can do less damage (like resale shops).  Otherwise she'll try to buy $100 worth of candy. 

Well, I hope today she's better.  But if not, we'll just bear through it and put up with her silliness, as usual.