How can I turn off my mother in law who chatters about nothing ALL day long?

Yup...I have this problem myself. Damn I invited it in when I agreed that my retired folks come live in the granny flat. I thought it would be a good idea because I have 3 children and needed a babysitter....ha! They dont babysit very often at all.

My mom has verbal diahorrea too....and she's got terminal cancer so its hard to just chuck her out mid sentence. I just time it. I make sure she knows I have stuff to do...pick up the kids, go shopping, have to cook tea etc OR my fav program is coming on. Anyway I give her time....but standup, smile and say...sorry mom, I have to do/watch such and such now. She likes her soapies too...so she gets it.

You cant change people. If they are lonely and very verbal they will not shut up. Unless you can find her a man to take up her time...you have to organise your time better and give her the limits. I wish you luck and patience.

Ok, she is a senior. Get her going to a senior group, they usually have different activities, that will get her out of the house for a few hours, She will meet new people and make friends. More people for her to talk with. Buy her a pocket phone book so she can ge the phone numbers of her new friends, and then she can talk to them.

If nothing else, she will have something different to talk about, which probably would be a pleasant change for you.

If she comes home and you ask her a question, it may make her feel like you care a bit and maybe her attitude will change a little.

Your husband definitely needs to be firm and tell his mother to "stop" when she points and distracts him while he is driving. Safety first.

As for the remainder of the time, maybe you can pretend to be busy with other things. Does she live with you? If so, walk around the house and act like you're doing chores. Try to make as little eye contact as possible. Do the uh huhs and nods, but don't contribute to the conversation.

Have you looked into senior programs? Maybe she needs something to keep her busy.

If you are middle aged she must be up there in age . Take her to the doctor and sedate her talking as* Get some kind of medicine for her, they even have Herbals that maybe can give her a calming affect. That is so cute......COTU syndrome...... That's good. Good luck. Listen to the person above me that is some good advice. I had to ad that in.

Try changing the subject into a more interested way. Don't want to hurt her feelings? Try doing something together that keeps you two busy.

try to bug her back. Start talking about every thing that's anything and make it really boring, and really monotone. She might get the picture

Drop a couple Valium in her coffee

Ear plugs?

let it go in one ear and out the other

tried sticking a huge lemon in her mouth?