Progress...

Today was a rough day for Mom.  She was very agitated, emotional and paranoid.  That's not a great combination.  For either of us. 

Here is a brief portion of the conversation we had while sitting in McDonald's inside Walmart today:

Me:  Are you finished eating?
Mom:  Why so you can get rid of me?
Me:  No.  We just need to get some food at the store.
Mom:  I'm not going with you.  (She starts gesturing for strangers to help her.)
Me:  Mom, please don't wave at them.
Mom:  They know me and they'll help me get away.
Me:  I thought you wanted to stay with me.
Mom:  I do.  Don't leave me here.
Me:  I won't.  I want you to come with me.
Mom:  Where?  I don't want to go with you.
Me:  I thought you wanted to be with me.
Mom:  I do.  But I'm not going with you.
Me:  Okay.  Where do you want to go?
Mom:  I just told you!
Me:  Can you show me?

Mom:  NO! I'm not going anywhere with you.  I want to be with you.
Me.  Okay.  We can stay here for awhile.
Mom:  Why so that you can dump me again?  Every time we come here you do this!
Me:  I'm going to dump this trash and then leave.  You can come if you want to.
Mom:  Okay.  But, I'm keeping my drink.

The interesting part of this conversation was that although we were attracting attention, I didn't let it or her get to me.  The woman 2 tables over was very judgmental in her glares.  I smiled and did what I had to do.  We did our shopping, checked out and made it to the car.  There in my car, I fell apart just a little bit.  But, it wasn't a meltdown, so I'm calling that progress.