How do I say no to my mom who is always asking me for favors?

Some of the favors are so innane that I have to ask myself why is it so important and urgent that she can't wait and do them herself. Calling me at 10 a night because she wants me to go get her some cigarettes. Calling me at work and wanting me to go pick up some fresh flowers for the dinning room table or stopping at a vitamin store to get her a "natural sleep aid", causing me to go miles off of my commute home. If I say no she gets pissed and gives me the "I'll remember that" shpell and then lists all the things I'm doing wrong and that her time is more valuable than mine. She's not feeble or bed ridden. She's barely into her 50's. She's not helpless; although she likes to act like she is. In the family she is notorious for being selfish and hot tempered. What do I do?

How do I say no to my mom who is always asking me for favors?
Sometimes our parents can forget that we have lives of our own. In this case it sounds like your mom could perhaps be lonely, maybe this is why she acts like she is helpless, not just for the attention but to be reminded that she has family who will be there for her when called upon. However she can not take unfair advantage of this. She needs to realize you have your own schedule. If you've already attempted to discuss the situation with her in a calm, non confrontational manner (without making her feel like she is at fault), then you need to do the following. Only accept the calls, and run the errands you actually have time for, you can not continue to inconvenience yourself. When time permits, do something special for your mother ( a visit, or brig her something you know will brighten her day) to show you do have time to dedicate to her. Keep in mind, she may still point out the occasions in which you were unable to appease her demands but you'll know that when she says "I'll remember this" that you've done nothing wrong. She needs to accept that you can't run over every time she calls, but still care enough to make time for her.

If she remains completely unaccepting of this, you'll ultimately need to make the decision between living your life and allowing your mother to deal with it, or sacrificing your every free moment to fulfill her demands.
Reply:Say no starting now. Let her throw her tantrum. She is using emotional blackmail to get her own way and youre falling for it. What kind of mother does that to her own kid?

If you really want to help her with errands though tell her to call you about them ONCE a week and make a list so you can do them all at the same time.

But if she is capable as you say why isnt she doing her own errands?

You need to find out the real reason shes asking you to do all this. Is she just real lonely and looking for an excuse to get you over there?