My Mother's birthday is this time of year...always right around Mother's Day and the King's birthday so she often gets lost in the shuffle.
Today, after years of torturing my mother over the things she was wrong about (things I am not mentioning here, ahem) I've decided to list the most important ones that she got right.
1. Always look your best, no matter how much money you have or don't have, no matter how much sleep you've had or haven't had, no matter how much you weigh or how long it's been since you could afford a haircut-- when you go out in public you should look the absolute best that you can. In the absence of everything else put on some lipstick and wear a smile.
2. You are allowed to talk to anyone, anywhere, anytime about anything. My mother will chat with people at the oddest times and within roughly 30 seconds figure out who they know that she knows, or where they lived that she's lived, or how they do something that she does exactly the same way. She's genuinely interested in people, and within 34 seconds they are interested in her too.
3. Making other people feel good about themselves should be one of your goals. While not every conversation can end happily, my mother has a knack for finding the good in an interpretation of things. I could tell her that I got fired and by the end of the conversation be convinced that I was better off if they didn't recognize my genius. (by the way, she WASN'T right about me being a genius)
4. Savor every minute of your children's childhood. Savor it. It all goes so fast and every minute of it is a gift. I really have tried and am sooooo glad she told me.
5. Try every day to be better than you were the day before. My mother is constantly striving to be a better person, wife, mother and especially Christian. She's never once sat back and been satisfied with how far she's come, she's always improving.
6. Pray. a lot.
7. Sprinkle a little humor into every day. My Mom's a funny gal, but more importantly she's easy to make laugh. Once she gets going it's fun just to watch her try to stop.
8. Don't cook when you can go out. Does that need an explanation?
9. Boys who didn't like me were too short for me anyway. What one thing has to do with the other...I have no idea. I think it's in the same vein as the serenity prayer but with a more practical application.
10. If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy. While she didn't coin the phrase she quoted it in a way that made you believe. I mimic her in my own little happy home with this phrase all of the time.
Who loves you Mom? It's me. The funny one.
I was beginning to wonder if you Chicago girls were still around! Thank goodness you are. This was a great post.
Posted by: chilihead | May 14, 2008 at 09:59 PM
Sounds like you have a pretty smart mom!
Posted by: Thea @ I'm a Drama Mama | May 15, 2008 at 07:24 AM
She sounds like an awesome mom!
My pastor says (from the pulpit) "If Mama ain't happy, aint nobody happy," all the time!
Posted by: Tracye | May 15, 2008 at 08:06 AM
Well said! Right on! I agree with it all! Hope your Mother's Day was awesome!
Posted by: chrissy | May 15, 2008 at 09:27 AM
Words to live by.
Except when I am walking around with my dirty hair under a ponytail and my grubbiest tshirt on,. I will at least remember to smile.
Posted by: Lisa@take90west | May 15, 2008 at 12:47 PM
SHE'S ALIVE!!! 10 days between posts... I was really starting to worry. What a nice post...FINALLY! and a great tribute to your mom. I'm not mad you haven't been posting or anything. Who loves you and misses you something fierce? That'd be me. :o)
Posted by: Chi Chi | May 15, 2008 at 12:55 PM
Mama's are so smart. I especially agree with the last one. ;)
Posted by: Ann | May 15, 2008 at 10:11 PM
Well -- what a nice birthday surprise! Thank you, Daughter Devine. I may have been funny before you were around, but you definitely have been my accomplice in taking our family humor to a new level! btw, I had forgotten about the "he's too short for you anyway" philosophy, but now that you mention it, I do remember that now!
Thanks for the memories. Love, Mom
Posted by: Sandra | May 16, 2008 at 09:26 AM
Welcome bak "J"...I have missed your posts...
Beautiful blog about your Mum...I just popped on over to her blog to wish her one huge Happy Birthday....
Take care and dont work to hard xoxo
Posted by: Danielle | May 18, 2008 at 09:29 PM
For a first-time visit, this was a great post to land on! I loved your tribute to your mom. She sounds like quite a character, and someone who has raised her daughter well.
Posted by: Photo Buffet | May 28, 2008 at 12:34 PM
For a first-time visit, this was a great post to land on! I loved your tribute to your mom. She sounds like quite a character, and someone who has raised her daughter well.
Posted by: Photo Buffet | May 28, 2008 at 12:34 PM
I really enjoyed this! My Mom's birthday is around Mother's Day too~did yours also have times it actually fell on the same day? (((((HUGS))))) sandi
Posted by: (((((HUGS))))) sandi | June 06, 2008 at 11:48 PM