I'm with you dpoe! I like to leave them up until I feel like taking them down because it is such a job putting them up.

Yes it is frustrating watching parents start to lose it. Humor is great. Do your best to laugh things off together. it really helps!

Have you tried telling her that you and dad want to leave them up longer?

I have to make post it notes to remind my Mom to remember or be there for if she cant.
Especially in food subject. I have a Sharpie and write when we opened milk etc.. She throws it out or wont eat it.

P

PepperMan, I tried the first time she did it, then asked her if she was sure she wanted to take them down so early the second. She said yes, so I just let it go. Dad does not like to make any waves for her, and thinks she is just bored, so just wants me to let it go. and so I will. I am.
And, Peaceful, I need to do that when i am washing bedding. Mom always tries to make the beds (minus the mattress pads) and it's really too much for her anyway, plus i need to undo it all and put on the mattress pads anyway. She just can't remember that she doesn't have to do that anymore, in fact shouldn't. it hurts her back and wears her out. i need a big cardboard sign that says "do not make bed, please".

It sounds like you are following around after Mom? She may be going through some restlessness. It seems I hear this happens. You can imagine after doing things the way you want and when will be a lot of energy to channel somewhere else. I use to take my Mom to the Mall to walk. Then, the whole going to the car started to be harder. This was before we had O2 and treatment for COPD. She was always noted as someone with panic. After they caught an 82 reading then it was time to have something at home.
It made a difference in her memory at first. She was also very mad that she had gone without and people were treating her like she was old and daft. Very touchy on the word memory. It is a bad word in the house :)

After writing the post to you about the notes tonight, my Mom yelled down the hall (20 feet) to say "Have I been here in this room all eve?"
I said "except for checking your email in the office..Why?"
Mom noticed her cane on the coffee table just waiting there for her to use. It is always there, where she puts it but the problem seemed to be that she had not seen it before.

So, is it forgetting or remembering( I am thinking to myself.) It has not been too long since she has been showing these traits.

Hope your house brought in the New Year safe and sound

Hugs
P

Mom is definitely going through restlessness, actually she is very bored. i set up things for her to do, and a lot of them she does, but more times than you'd expect she's backed out. says she isn't feeling well, or she's too weak or tired. she used to read and work crossword puzzles, including the new york times. now she can't remember what she read the night before, and won't even try just reading daily meditation or inspirational books, where you don't have to remember. i also got her find-a-word books to try since she struggles with crosswords, but she hasn't tried them yet. i just want her to keep working her brain somehow. dad, who is older but only just starting to have some memory problems, often thinks she just doesn't try. i'm pretty sure that's not the main thing, but can't help but think she opts out of stuff because she thinks her conditions would prevent her from succeeding or completing something. it's just a tough thing to see, but i just keep setting things up for her to do and always hope for the best.

i'm sorry you have the physical conditions to deal with as well. i have COPD myself and hope it never gets so bad that i need oxygen. i had it once for over a month and it was no fun to mess with.

dpoe I see my mom doing the same thing. As her abilities decrease she will first get angry and then she just seems to accept the change. But to protect herself she stops trying.

I wouldn't try to push your mom too much to do things. I like your alternatives that don't require memory but it's possible she is having problems with word finding so even short passages can be difficult. My mom always loved card games. She still plays spider solitaire on the computer..and wins!! I can't do it. I guess that just proves that the brain is an amazing thing.