100 Things I Learned from My Mother

18 years ago today, my mother passed away. Here are some things my mother taught me:

1. plant flowers
2. use the term of endearment, honey
3. sing to your children
4. let them smell you and your breath so they know you intimately
5. speak gently to them in the evenings
6. rub their backs when they are in bed
7. take extra good care of them when they are sick
8. get them a fun comforter and sheets so their beds feel like "theirs"
9. stop at rummage sales, spontaneously
10. find the good in something old
    
    
11. know the value of the dollar
12. reuse a Ziplock bag of if you can
13. reuse good wrapping paper too
14. know how to wrap a gift properly
15. know that you can use another small present as a bow instead of a bow
16. make really really good dumplings with real chicken stock; it will warm your stomach
17. eating too much butter is not good for you, but it's ok to have a little
18. take time every afternoon for a little something sweet and a cup of coffee
19. clean corners, cracks and crevice
    
20. get in the car and just "go!"


21. take a vacation every summer
22. distance doesn't matter, leave the city and go exploring on any afternoon
23. always stop what you are doing to check out something interesting
24. grow your own tomatoes
25. fill up your yard with flowers and beautiful things
26. play outside as much as possible
27. always come home to eat dinner at the table
28. watching television is a treat, not a necessity
29. have a desk and a place to write and color
30. use a napkin


31. can your own peaches
32. grind your own meat
33. just b/c it's new doesn't mean it's better
34. don't waste leftovers
35. coffee is better with cream and sugar
36. it's ok to drink a little coffee when you're a kid
37. have fun with whatever you do
38. go to church
39. respect the church
40. light a candle for those who have died


41. visit loved one's grave sites
42. be of service to others, older folks especially
43. send a meal back to the kitchen if it's not right
44. and take home all your leftovers
45. keep involved in your community
46. when you do buy furniture, get something good that will last
47. take good care of your pets
48. get to know your neighbors
49. dress up warm if it's cold outside, don't be afraid if you look funny
50. keep the gray out of your hair


51. dress in a way that you like, not worrying about what other's think
52. stay involved with your kid's schooling and activities
53. be loyal to your family
54. have a lot of friends, get to know all kinds of people and talk to them
55. cook dinner for your family
56. have your own money and your own car
57. get a college education; it's the most valuable thing you will have
58. it doesn't matter what age you are when you have kids
59. work if you can so you understand what that is all about
60. take the bus if you don't have a car; find your way to where you need to go


61. don't be afraid to find new places
62. don't be afraid to drive for hours to visit a new state
63. take an airplane trip every now and then
64. be as independent as you can while staying dedicated to your family
65. don't worry about what other's think of you
66. stay married and try to work thru problems
67. take care of your parents
68. don't spend money foolishly
69. shop for sales
70. finding a career that makes money is important; it's good to follow your heart but make money too


71. there's always room for coffee at the end of a meal
72. and for desert too, just a few bites
73. carry a big purse, you never know what you might need at any given time
74. it's OK to drink coffee while driving
75. music is lovely
76. playing records is a great way to pass time
77. having a friend along always makes the journey better
78. having a pet along makes traveling even more fun
79. a scarf makes a great leash for a pet
80. wear comfortable shoes whenever possible; at the end of the day, you will be glad you did


81. when gas prices are low, get in the car and drive somewhere!
82. visit relatives every now and then
83. corner grocery stores are the best; get to know your butcher by first name
84. keep the windows and blinds open to let the sun shine in
85. have a kitchen window so you can watch your children play outside while you do the dishes
86. a TV in the kitchen is not necessarily a bad thing
87. let your spouse do his thing; don't trap him
88. let the husband mow the lawn
89. remember what it was like when you were a kid
90. get good grades in school


91. don't be afraid to apologize
92. do not swear or talk back to your parents!
93. some things are better kept private; don't air all your dirty laundry for the world to see and know
94. celebrate holidays
95. saving money is very important... find good ways to invest
96. don't be afraid to ask for help
97. always talk to your children's teachers
98. you'd better be really sick if you're going to miss school
99. brush your hair
100. it's better to hand make a card than buy one from the store