sometimes, I would have a really bad day at work and I would call my mom on the way to walking to my car, and I would say "hey mom, how's it going? just checking in? how are you doing? good?  I had a really bad day at work...." and she would start talking--- usually about the things she has already told me about.  and I would listen. a few times I would try to steer the conversation back to me in the hopes of some comfortable or advice in the situation I was facing, but it never worked.

I would love to listen to my mom talk about herself one more time.