Is there a database of canned answers to LO questions?

LittleVolcano

Does anyone know of a database/website/article of literal answers to questions that our LOs ask? Sometimes I just can't do the mental/verbal acrobatics to come up with new stuff on the fly and it would nice to just grab a list of canned answers. I'm sure I could search the forums and pull out lines that other people use and create lists for myself, but I don't want to reinvent the wheel if I don't have to. I've read plenty on various reasons why our LOs ask what they ask, and general instructions on how to respond, but sometimes my brain just locks up (I've never been a fast thinker/talker to begin with). It gives me a headache when I have to come up with some new fiblet because an old one stopped working (or isn't working in the moment).

Sidenote: I absolutely loathe the phone and talking to people in general now, because I'm so burnt out mentally from concocting stories for Mom all the time. I feel like there is something biologically hardwired in our brains that rejects creating fiblets. I know that fibbing is the right thing to do, but, boy, my brain really fights against it for some reason. The discomfort of cognitive dissonance I suppose.

Anyway, back to my original question. Is there a running list of answers to try for any of the various things our LOs say (since most of us pretty much hear the same questions)?

Or am I giving myself a project here.

Rick4407

For the last 6 years I have been telling my DW the same answers to the same questions. She doesn't remember the questions or the answers.  Save your creativity!  Rick

FloydSnax

Volcano

Thats a good idea. I got a list on my phone that I made up. But of course, I haven't used them because who's got time to run to a list when the verbal chaos has already started. But if you do find this magical list, please share. My problem is answering logically and that just makes it worse. When my mom starts up at 4 pm, I try to just playfully react. "Where are the children? They're in danger...." I'll say, "Danger? In this weather? No way. If anything, they'll need a jacket. Like the one you have." I'll actually walk to the closet and change the whole dialogue to her clothes. It gets too much when its every 5 minutes, but...if you wanna break the curse...we do it. It's all horrible. Good luck. 

LittleVolcano

Rick4407 wrote:

For the last 6 years I have been telling my DW the same answers to the same questions. She doesn't remember the questions or the answers.  Save your creativity!  Rick

Sometimes the old reliables work. And sometimes they don't, which is when I need the creativity for conjuring new answers (or a list of answers to try). And then of course the questions change. 

LittleVolcano

FloydSnax wrote:

Volcano

Thats a good idea. I got a list on my phone that I made up. But of course, I haven't used them because who's got time to run to a list when the verbal chaos has already started. But if you do find this magical list, please share. My problem is answering logically and that just makes it worse. When my mom starts up at 4 pm, I try to just playfully react. "Where are the children? They're in danger...." I'll say, "Danger? In this weather? No way. If anything, they'll need a jacket. Like the one you have." I'll actually walk to the closet and change the whole dialogue to her clothes. It gets too much when its every 5 minutes, but...if you wanna break the curse...we do it. It's all horrible. Good luck. 

Yeah, maybe I'll make this a project. Solicit answers from other caregivers, compile a central list, and share it here. But, yeah, it's hard to reach for a list (or my sense of humor) when the fur is flying. It's more for reviewing in quieter times and hoping something jumps out that's easy to remember. I do also try to keep things light, but I'm still stumped on what to say when my Mom (LO) is badmouthing my father (co-primary), who she rarely recognizes and just thinks is a stranger who busts in to her house all the time. I get too hurt when the disease attacks him (I'm protective of both of them). Usually I respond by saying that since I can't be there all the time, "my Dad" is there to protect her for me, which sometimes works. Failing that, I ignore it, quietly die a little more on the inside, and talk about what's on TV. 

Yep, it's all horrible. I try to lifehack as much as possible to prevent burnout, so I'll try to compile this list for myself and share as it takes form.