good advice

My mother's twin sister is a sensible woman, who has been dealing with my mother her whole life. She said, "When your mother says something to make you angry, just count to a hundred. Then, if you have to, you can count to a thousand."
"And after that?"
"After that, there's always ten thousand, if she hasn't said something else infuriating first."
I thought conflicts wouldn't escalate if I could avoid angry words, but I didn't count on the provocative effects of angry numbers, angry silences, and attempts to retreat altogether. The last few days have been difficult.