A Gaslighting Mastermind

My mother’s cognitive abilities have begun to wane in recent years. She is very much aware of this fact and we are both learning and doing everything within our collective powers to mitigate the process and its effects. One of those tools is humor. It’s something our family does, even when it leans dark - utilize humor to soften the blow.

I mention that almost as a disclaimer. Because we laugh an awful lot about it. And with her permission, actually, at her urging, I will be sharing some of the episodes and incidents that have caused us to laugh together the hardest. Not only because these are funny stories, but because they can prompt questions or discussions about how to deal with what’s happening. Quite often after we are done wiping the laughter-tears from our faces, we will have a talk about how to handle similar occurrences in the future. What I or we could try or do differently. 

Perhaps these anecdotes will prompt some readers to have a conversation with their own loved ones or do their own investigating into the topic. Much like my hope with the grief essays. These are difficult topics that I feel are not dealt with nearly to the extent that they should be. And if we can manage to get a giggle out of it along the way, then all the better. 

First out of the chute is how tending to a loved one whose cognitive ability has begun to wane is almost like having a relationship with a gaslighting mastermind. Here are just three of the many recent incidents between Mom and me.