Anyone else find Mom is different on the phone?

[Guest guest]

Dutiful daughter that I am calls Mom everyday - sometimes her words make sense

to me and I can follow her and have a brief conversation. More times than not,

however, the 'conversation' quickly becomes her speaking and me struggling to

hear what she is saying and then trying to make sense of it. I don't want to

disrespect her by not listening, but I am exhausting myself and getting nowhere.

When do you learn a different way of responding so she feels heard and you don't

use up all of your intellectual, mental and emotion energy one that one phone

call? She's doing better one-on-one, but I cannot visit nearly as often as I am

able to call.

Help!

Cesca