Happy Mother's Day

Three Things I Didn't Learn From My Mother


Every late spring/early summer I would hear mom rustling around in her closet - and inevitability - her summer sandals would make an appearance. I loved these sandals - not because it was the advent of warm weather - but because these sandals were probably the least practical shoes my mother owned. They were tan, open toed, of course, and had different tile like colors on the top. The heal wasn't very high - but I loved the sound of the clacking when she walked. Years later - I can imagine she still has these shoes. Each fall she stored them back in tissue in probably the original shoe box and saved them for the next warm season. I don't think I have ever stored a pair of shoes in a shoebox, ever. Wherever they land on my closet floor is where they stay - and that is if they even make it to the closet.




I don't remember my mother ever just sitting and watching TV or chit chatting. Oh, the TV may have been on but she was always crocheting or doing some type of needlecraft. Growing up I didn't appreciate her talents and would sometimes wrap my dog in one of her crocheted afghans or I would use one for a towel as I caught some sun on the patio. She made these gold beady things that were put over jars and dishes - they were gorgeous albeit hard to explain. My sister and I pulled our hair up on top of our heads and covered the bun with her creations always stretching them out. I can't sew, crochet, knit, or any other hand craft. The afghan she crocheted for my first son will never be used - it is the only piece of handicraft I think that we didn't destroy!



My mother also apparently either had access to more hours in a day or made the most of her allotted time! She was a nurse and on the days she worked - she would always have dinner ready before she left in the morning. Even if she wasn't working - dinner was in the oven by the time we got home from school. After a jaunt to the grocery - she was always chopping and dicing. I might cut celery if we're having a party - but it usually stays in stalk form until I need it for a chicken salad.


Three Things My Mother Did Teach Me



That coupon hoarders show absolutely kills me. My mom has always been a coupon queen. Now, she never saved $700 in a single Kroger visit - but in her time - she could do some damage! She was and is very practical - and had a what she called her "blizzard supply" in the basement. It consisted of 50-100 different kinds of jars and cans at any given time. Anything from spaghetti sauce to canned frosting. The bathroom closet was the same way - soaps, lotions, shampoos - all from her couponing madness. I appreciate she took the time and energy to show me how this saving business works. The guilt eats me alive if I happen to go the grocery without my coupons.




If we had a blizzard supply in the basement - we had a container bonanza in the garage! The woman saved every type of glass jar or plastic container that was empty! I laugh when I think of this - some of our cereal bowls were actually containers that once held butter and we had juice glasses that were originally some type of cheese dip. They were meant to be reused in these fashions - so some companies were green before it was cool to be earth friendly. I don't know what ever happened to those collection of Cool Whip containers, though. Although I don't keep all sizes and shapes of jars and containers - I do recycle thanks to her early efforts of cleaning up the earth.



Every single time someone poured a drink in the kitchen whether it be iced tea, Pepsi or milk - Mom's radar would hone in and you would hear "Pour it over the sink!" It didn't matter if she was in the basement, down the street or saying the Rosary at church - she would just know you were pouring grape juice into one of those cheese jars in front of the refrigerator! Every night as I Swiffer my kitchen floor of sticky beverage residue - I silently curse myself for not making this a rule in my house.


Three Things I'm In Agreement With My Mother


Mom used to have "funny" rules - and they used to drive me crazy. If I was leaving the house my coat had to be buttoned, zipped, belted or whatever - because "You look cheap if your coat is opened." I don't know where this logic came from, and I can assure you as soon as I was out of sight - the coat was open - probably more out of spite than comfort. But you know what - I don't know if women necessarily look "cheap" with an open coat - but they sure look sloppy. Score one for Mom!



Cleavage was never to be on display whether you were wearing a bathing suit, v neck sweater or strapless prom dress. She used to threaten to pin a rose to our bosom area if even a hint of cleave was showing. While I used to think she was a Purtian - I find myself searching for scarves, pins, corsages, shawls - anything to cover the breasts of these young girls running around today. Jeez, girls! Leave something to the imagination! Mom - 2.




If my mom thought I was hanging around someone that could possibly be a bad influence - she would call that person "an occasion to sin." I thought this was hysterical - what a funny way to say I wasn't allowed to do something - because they might make me sin. Oh, that woman knew what she was talking about. Years later I often tell my own kids - if you have to sneak, lie, cover your tracks - is the friendship worth it? Mom said it much quainter. Mom wins.