Well Karla, I hear you. My daughter is also a terrible slob.
No amount of coaching, begging or embarrassing her will get
her to do anything. Her husband has left her and she sent my
grandson to live with him in another state from her. When she
was 13 she ran away to live with her dad and ended up with his
mother. That is where she learned to be such a slob. I can
remember when I was dating my ex and would go to their house
and the stink would just about knock you over! Not only was
there clutter, but old food under furniture, cups with mold
growing in them in the bedrooms, garbage cans overflowing, you
name it!! I think that people who are like that are very
unlikely to change. I really don't think there is too much
you can do to change or inspire them to start cleaning up. They
don't seem to be able to see the mess. It is like it isn't even
there.
You need to try to let some of it go and not stress yourself over
it. You know that extra stress is bad for you and makes you feel
worse. I am sure the rest of the family knows it is your mom and
not you who is the slob. They are all probably pretty happy you
are the one living with it and not them. So I guess my advice is
only to try to ignore some of it, keep cleaning up the rest and try
to not get stressed about it. I know it isn't easy when it is in
your face everyday, but you do need to take care of yourself first!
Hope you have a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
I am hoping to meet you in April in Lansing....Your friend, Cheryl