Recently I asked this question on Facebook, “What are some of your favorite sayings that your mom or a mother figure was known to say?” Here are some of my favorites!
Things Moms Say:
“I swear you must have been born in a barn.“ I was always leaving the door open. I passed it onto my kids, and now I hear them saying it to my grandkids when they leave it open.” ~Jeannie
“Just wait ’til your dad gets home.” I couldn’t resist! ~ Ginger
“This too shall pass!” My grandma always said that and now I do too. ~Cathy
When I was inappropriately dressed as an older child, my mom would say, “Oh, aren’t you going with us?” It always surprised us since we thought we were dressed just fine! ~Linda
“If you were truly sorry, you would never have done it in the first place.” My Mom always said this, still does, and I still don’t get it. But nonetheless, it is something I will always think about when I hear someone say, “I’m sorry.” ~ Annette
“Saying you sorry doesn’t make it better!” ~Deana
“You are known by the company you keep.” ~Susan
“That’s not very lady like.” Heard this a lot growing up! Hahahaha. ~Kimberly
“Beauty is only skin deep, it’s what is inside that counts.” ~Sally
“The days are long, but the years are short.” Referring to raising children, especially when they are little.” ~Darcie
“Be careful what you wish for.” ~Karen
“I will give you something to cry about.” My cousin’s mom would always say that if we fussed about anything. ~Sarah
My mom said, “If your friends jumped off the Empire State Building would you jump too?” ~Denise
Light-Hearted Humor
“Whenever a child asked what a particular thing was for, my Mum would say, “It’s a wing wong for a gooses bridle.” ~Elaine
My mom was always on the go, working full time, cooking, cleaning, taking care of us. She said often, “The hurrier I go the behinder I get!” I cross-stitched that for her later on. ~Gail
Mom’s Advice About Men
“Never marry a man expecting to change him, marry someone you like the way he is.” And with that, “Men marry women expecting them to stay the same and they change. Women marry men expecting them to change and they don’t.” ~Ashley
From my mom when I got married 30 years ago… it went something like this… “He is your husband now. Don’t come knocking at my door because you have ‘run away from home’. I am here to help and will give you advice when you ask and pray for you both every day. But, you promised ’til death do you part’ so stay home and work it out with him.” I was grateful for that advice and took it and though we have had many disagreements over the 30 years we have always been able to work it out, in time.” ~Debbie
Mom’s Practical Advice
“Do you have a flashlight?” Oh, and “Always go when you have the chance.” And in my bedroom as a teenager: “At least clear a path.” ~Anne
“Drink lots of water!” ~Linda
“If it hurts when you go like that, don’t go like that!” ~Lynn
“The perk of being the cook is tasting all the food before everyone else.” Sherry
“A lady always knows when its time to leave.” And, “You are never fully dressed without a smile.” ~ Donna
“The least said, the easiest mended,” and “Consider the source and let it go.” ~Laura
“Never discipline a child for something you have never taken the time to teach them!” ~Karla
“You will never know if you never ask.” My mom used to say that a lot…it helped me throughout the years whenever I was fearful of approaching a situation that required someone’s help….whether it be financial, emotional or physical. (I really miss her.) ~Debbie
I love this quote from my hero of faith: “Don’t bother to give God instructions; just report for duty.” ― Corrie ten Boom ~Tammy
“A lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine.” She said that many times to me over my teenage years. ~Alycia
Mom Responses You Don’t Truly Understand Until You’re Older
“If wishes were horses, beggars could ride, and if wishes were turnips, beggars could eat.” ~Becky
“Life is rolling along on rubber tires,” when things are going smoothly. ~Kathleen
From my mama, who now resides in heaven: “You stand up for the Lord even if it harelips the devil!” From the time I can remember, she told us that. I’ve tried to be obedient, too. ~Susan
Never have a battle of wits with an unarmed man. ~Beth
My grandmother: “Remember when you point your finger at someone else, you have three pointing back at you!” ~Holly
“It takes all kinds to make the world go round.” ~Minerva
From a lady who was like a second mother to me: “Live and learn. Die and forget it all!” ~Patty
“If it’s meant to be…it’s meant to be.” From my mother-in-law. ~Mary
“It all comes out on wash day.” ~Laurie
“The only thing he can say is no—just ask!” (My great aunt who taught me sooo much) ~Angela
“Some day you’ll have kids just like you.” ~Susan
What God has to say to Moms:
He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. Isaiah 40:11 (NIV)
What about you? What are favorite sayings from your mom or a mother figure? Leave a comment and I’ll give one of you a copy of my new book Moms’ Night Out!
This post was part of RedEnvelope’s Mother’s Day project (www.redenvelope.com). I remember my first gift in a RedEnvelope box. I felt special! Do you?
Do as I say not as I do!
Yes, I heard that! I doesn’t really work, does it? 🙂
Find a job where you feel like you’re being paid to play.
Good one. Thankfully I have!
You will never understand until you have had your own children, how much I love you.
Oh, that made me smile!
My grandmother used to say, “Pretty is as pretty does.”
That’s a good one.
My granny said pretty is as pretty does. My mom said, “Can’t never could do anything, but can could” “Quit crying or I’m gonna give you something to cry about!” If I told her “That didn’t hurt” after a spanking, she’d say, “Do you want me to make it hurt?” She also told me to “Never grow up” because she wanted me to stay sweet like I was right then she’d say. Mom’s are really something special, and I am blessed to have had a good one!
Good stuff!. LOL
My mom had lots of sayings. “Beggars can’t be choosers.” “Did you pray about it?” “I taught you better than that!” “Either go in or go out!” (when we were in and out of the house every 5 min). One of the best though was, “I Sure do love you.” Usually spoken at random with a pat while we were sitting together somewhere.
My best friends mom growing up was not a very good cook (unlike my mom), and she burned a lot of her food. I always tried to inconspicuously scrape off the black. She would laugh and say, “Aw, eat it! It will put hair on your chest!” That always made me scrape harder. What girl wants hair on her chest?! lol
This is so fun Tricia. But so many have already said the things I remember most. Seems moms think alike.LOL One thing I’ve never forgotten. If we complained about not being able to find something to do outdoors, momma would say, “If you can’t find something to do I can always find some work for you to do” We always decided we could find something to do.” “When we had a sore bump on our tongue, she would ask what we lied about? (us, why? ) It’s a lie bump.” So many things. So many of these quotes are things I remember saying myself to my lids. Maxie mac262(at)me(dot)com