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How old is your mom? Does she have dementia? When did she start doing this? How long do you visit?

At your house, lose the remote when she is coming to visit. Or tell her NO TV when she is there to visit. It's your house. Or suck it up and watch for a bit then tell her you have things to do or play on your phone or read or whatever so you don't have to actually watch it.

If you are just done with this being forced to watch tv thing, you can set a boundary. Unless she has dementia, then you are kind of stuck and your only option is to limit your visits. Boundary could be something like "I want to come visit you tomorrow but I do not want to watch TV. I want to play a game (or whatever you want to do instead)." Or give her 2 or 3 choices of something else to do. Tell her if she turns the tv on, you will find something else to do. Like go home.

This would drive me crazy!
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Jengem55 Jan 10, 2024
My mom is a young 75 year old. She is of sound mind. Does everything by herself. She is lost without my dad and lonely. I still work. I'm not in good health at all. If I dare get on my phone, she will say "I thought you came to spend time with me". She thinks it's rude.
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Just pretend to be watching it for a while. You don’t have to talk about it to her.

Stay as long as you wish, then leave. It’s difficult to watch our parents get stuck in a rut. Even more difficult to watch them decline.

So sorry for the loss of your dad. Best wishes to you and your mom.
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Reply to NeedHelpWithMom
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Jengem55 Jan 10, 2024
Thank you so much.
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I have a book recommendation for you--Lifeskills for Adult Children. Please find it in your local library and read it.
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Jengem55 Jan 10, 2024
Thank you. Will look into it.
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Ugh! Is this getting stuck on one thing a new habit for mom or has she gotten stuck on other things before? I’m guessing you’ve tried getting her out for other things, like to eat or shop? If she’s adamant to do nothing else, and you’re sure nothing else is at work such as a mental decline, then set a mental timer for yourself and stay for whatever time you can take it. Then excuse yourself and go, no need to explain, she knows you don’t enjoy this, who would over and over !?
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Jengem55 Jan 10, 2024
Thats what I'm doing. But even 2 hours is a lot for me. I find myself looking at the time to leave. It's sad, I know.
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Visit for a while, try to enjoy the program, then leave.
Your Mom clearly isn't quite right, and she really isn't in control of the niceities of things anymore. She has this habit and intends to stick to it.
I am assuming you have tried EVERYTHING
Reading to her
Listening to true crime podcasts (hee hee would work for me)
Doing a puzzle
Playing a very simple board game
anything else you can come up with. If none of that works and she won't take a walk with you or go to visit the ice cream parlor I am afraid you are stuck with religion and politics. I could take anything for an hour. Even religion and politics.
And just a few times a week.

Tell Mom that you will visit a bit more frequently when you can put on Judge Judy!
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Jengem55 Jan 10, 2024
She likes Judge Judy but doesn't watch it anymore. Since my dad passed away, she stays away from the worldly things
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