My mother always talks about herself, never listens to others – and is turning friends against her

She’s a terrible conversationalist, seizing any opportunity to dominate discussions. Raising this with her is daunting as she’s defensive and doesn’t take criticism well

My mother is a terrible conversationalist, and I think her behaviour is irritating people to the point of pushing them away. She tends to dominate conversations, turning any given exchange back around to her life experiences. She seems incapable of listening fully to others. Her own anecdotes rarely draw to a conclusion, and she will dwell on the tiniest, most insignificant details, that serve no point.

I have started to notice people getting visibly frustrated, even zoning out in boredom while she is talking, but she seems completely oblivious. Recently, at a party, my sister suggested my mother should make a speech, and one of the guests muttered: “Urgh … four hours later.” She didn’t hear this, but it’s beyond apparent that it’s not only immediate family that are finding her frustrating even her friends are.

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