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[quote=Anonymous]
Your mother is mentally perturbed, and it probably stems from untreated anxiety and the notion that you're not your own person, but a dependent she needs to hector about "for their own good".

You've actually got to repeat calmly "Mom, I'm exhausted and overwhelmed right now so I will call you once a week on X day at Y time (or whatever frequency you prefer)". Make it a standing date. I Facetime my parents every Sunday at 11am. Most news keeps for a week, except my grandmother's rapid decline this week and expected demise, for which we've been in more frequent communication.

If she gets upset or huffy or whatever, that's her prerogative but nothing you need to concern yourself with. You don't control her emotions, and don't need to take them personally. Ignore as best you can. If you call and she doesn't pick up because she's giving you the silent treatment, it's HER loss, not yours. You just call the week after. If relatives call because she's complaining about you to them, you can just tell them the truth succinctly, and "hm-mm" your way to the end of those conversations.

It's all really easy... unless you're dependent in some way on your mother, financially, or if she's a gatekeeper to another relative you want to contact, like a father, grandparent or sibling. In that case, you'll have to give her just enough to get what you want :-)
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