Sunday Funnies – What Mom Taught Me and A Giveaway!
Posted on Sunday, May 6th, 2012
My Gram saved the Sunday Funny Papers for me and my daughter Nicole every week – many, many years ago. I think it gave us both an appreciation for the fine art of mixing humor with work. (It could also explain a lot… ) I’ll try to pass on my Gram’s gift here, sort of as a reminder to laugh every day. Thanks, Gram. Let’s see who’s got a chuckle for us today…
An early Happy Mother’s Day to you!
The reason I’m posting this a week early is because I thought I’d have a little giveaway to celebrate. Here’s what I’m doing.
I found this little slice of fun (with a heavy dose of reality stuck in!) on AhaJokes.com. It was one of those “it’s funny because it’s true” things. I’m sharing it here for you to enjoy.
THEN, after you read it, I’m asking you to comment in the box below and share something you learned from your mother or other significant woman in your life when you were growing up.
THEN, on Mother’s Day I will use a techie random thingy to choose one comment and that commenter will receive my ecookbook – Memory Lane Meals. (Go ahead and click on the link to take a peek if you like, then come on back.)
So that’s all there is to it. Share something you learned in the comments section. It can be funny or touching. And, if it’s already been mentioned, that’s just fine. I just want to hear what you have to say about the lessons you learned, intentional or not, when you were growing up. But first, here’s the funny I promised to share from AhaJokes.com:
MY MOTHER TAUGHT ME ABOUT…
1. ANTICIPATION. “Just wait until your father gets home.”
2. RECEIVING. “You are going to get it when we get home!”
3. MEETING A CHALLENGE. “Answer me when I talk to you! Don’t talk back to me!”
4. LOGIC. “If you fall out off that swing and break your neck, you’re not going to the store with me.”
5. MEDICAL SCIENCE. “If you don’t stop crossing your eyes, they are going to freeze that way.”
6. THINKING AHEAD. “If you don’t pass your spelling test, you’ll never get a good job.”
7. HUMOR. “When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don’t come running to me.”
8. BECOMING AN ADULT. “If you don’t eat your vegetables, you’ll never grow up.”
9. GENETICS. “You’re just like your father.”
10. MY ROOTS. “Do you think you were born in a barn?”
11. THE WISDOM OF AGE. “When you get to be my age, you will understand.”
and finally…
12. JUSTICE. “One day you’ll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you!”
I can relate to just about everything there! And now that I watch my own daughter with my grandkids, the last one just puts a smile on my face. May the circle be unbroken…
Happy Mother’s Day!
p.s. Now, it’s your turn to comment. Share something you learned from your mother or other remarkable woman in your life when you were growing up. It can be funny or touching… silly or serious.
On Mother’s Day next Sunday I will use that random thingy and let it choose a commenter to receive my ecookbook – Memory Lane Meals. I’ll announce the winner’s name here on May 13th so be sure to comment before next Sunday.
Please be absolutely sure to include your email address so I can notify you and send your ebook out. AND, since you’re already here, why not sign up for my blog updates? Then you won’t miss a thing that’s happening here at RemarkableWrinklies.com.
All set? Okay… go ahead and scroll down until you see the comment box and share your story!
And don’t forget to sign up for my email alerts so you don’t miss a thing happening here at RemarkableWrinklies.com!
When I was 13, I, like most teenagers, hated to get out of bed any earlier than I had to, especially on a weekend. On one occasion, my mom threatened me with, “If you don’t get out of bed in the next 5 minutes, I’m going to haul you out the front door and lock you out, baby doll pjs and all.” we’ll, I didn’t take her seriously and snuggled back down in bed, so I was completely unprepared to find myself quickly hauled outside and locked out. In my frilly baby doll pjs. Mortified and beyond embarrassment, I begged and pleaded for 15 whole minutes, convinced my life was over (several schoolmates, most of them male, lived on my block) before she let me back in. What I learned? Never underestimate what someone is willing to do of they feel they need to prove a point. Such a fond memory..my mom and I were best friends, and I am proud to say my kids have similar stories about knowing I never make empty threats, smile.
Thank you, Victoria, for commenting and sharing that great story. Yes, even Mothers who are all soft, cuddly, sweet, and nice have to have steel reinforced guts! It takes a lot of gumption to follow through on those threats. I know those are also the stories that keep us laughing. Thanks again!
p.s. You may notice I added your Etsy store link to your name. 😉 I remember you from Hillbilly Housewife Club times. As a matter of fact, the Club is being revamped and relaunched to include a private Facebook group. Should be fun. Watch for it and maybe I’ll see you there again.
My mother skated professionally for a short time with the San Francisco Bay Bombers in the very early days of roller derby – back in the 1940’s … and though she did not pursue it as a career, she was the stereotype fiesty, little redheaded handful! And she roller skated well into her 70’s.
In the late 1990’s, she once made the comment to my husband at the time (and I wish I remember the impetus for the comment), “Son, if you can fight on skates, you can fight anywhere!” We nearly fell off our chairs laughing …. but I guess that’s true!
When she passed away, I was sorting through her wallet and ran across a little, folded, torn bit of paper that had a little cartoon of an “old lady” and the caption of the infamous line, “Pull up your big girl panties and deal with it” … I took it as her last little lesson for me to learn. She remained feisty until the very end!
Happy Mommy’s Day, everyone!
Thank you, Marie, for sharing this great story. A roller derby skater?! Yikes! I don’t think I’ll forget that sentiment about being able to fight anywhere. Very feisty indeed!
After I hit about 30, and pretty much every year afterwards, I would complain about how old I was getting. My mom would always tell me, “Oh, honey, you’re still just a baby.” It would sometimes lift me up, and sometimes it would kind of get on my nerves. Well, now I have a 40 year old son, and guess what I say to him when he starts talking about how old he is getting?! Yep….word for word! But now I understand how she could say it and mean it every time. I sure miss my mom, but I cannot help but smile whenever I find myself sounding just like her!
Thank you, Sharon. Word for word. I sure know that feeling, right down to the voice! Thanks for sharing your story, Sharon.
There are many lessons we all learn from our mothers, some not so pleasant, ones you wouldn’t want to share with the world …. but I think the one thing that sticks with me, is as we age we mellow and don’t sweat the small stuff. My mother, Ida, always said, in good times and in bad …. “I just take it as it comes”. And she was always able to find joy in every day. 🙂
P.S. Nice posting, Patti, making us think of nice memories of our own mothers.
Thank you, OSS. And you are so true… lessons learned are not always pleasant, but good, bad, or in between, it’s the stuff of life we need to know. Thank you for sharing! Finding joy in every day, eh? Excellent. Thank you for the kind words also. 😉
My mom taught me to be a mom. To love my girls, and always be there for them. To love my husband and appreciate him and all that he does for me. And most of all to love my Father God and be thankful for His blessing in my life.
Thank you, Myrna, for taking the time to share your thoughts.
My mother taught me good nutrition by making sure I ate a well balanced breakfast, while some of my friends’ breakfast was a cookie in each hand followed by a glass of milk. She also taught me about hard work early in life. The chore list seemed endless. That is how I learned not to let her know I was bored. If bordom set in I learned early to entertain myself by reading or some other fun activity. If we forgot and expressed our bordom, we received, you guessed it, a chore to do. Looking back I can see that I learned valuable lessons for life while eating nutritious food, doing chores, and finding good entertainment for myself. Happy Mother’s Day ladies.
Thank you, Margo, and Happy Mother’s Day to you, too. I had to chuckle at your mention of being ‘bored’ and how you learned how NOT to express it. In my house, too, if we said the word ‘bored’ we were quickly given something to do so we weren’t bored! And in our huge family, there was never a lack of chores to do. So, yes, we stayed very busy! Margo, you might like to read my post In A World Without Helmets. It’s a glimpse into what we did to not get bored and to stay out of the way! Thanks for sharing your memories.
My mother went to college and supported two little (6 and 7 years old) kids while working full time and struggling through a divorce with my father, who didn’t pay child support regularly. Her examples of determination, perseverence, and the will to succeed have stuck with me for my whole life. Now that I’m a mom of two little kids myself, her favorite saying “Nothing too good or too bad lasts for too long” has become my mantra, since there’s ALWAYS something “bad” happening, usually a mess or an injury!
Thank you, Kelley, for sharing your thoughts. Determination and perseverance are definitely strong attributes to carry throughout one’s life. You are very fortunate to have learned that. I also just love the saying! What tickles me is that your mom included that nothing too GOOD lasts too long either! So, yeah, good or bad, time passes and we move on. Thanks again for sharing.
My aunt is a mom figure to me and pseudo-grandma to my children. She taught me to value myself, to keep the faith, seek God and to be creative.
Thank you, Kim, for reminding us that we may have other Mom figures in our life. I consider Mother’s Day a time to celebrate all the women who have touched our life, supported us, and taught us the lessons we needed to grow. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts and memories with us.
MY MOTHER IS MY HERO. AS HER ONLY DAUGHTER, I ALWAYS ENJOYED SHARING PRECIOUS MOTHER/DAUGHTER TIMES WITH HER. SHE BECAME MY PLAYMATE IN SO MANY WAYS. SHE DID JUMP ROPE WITH ME, HOPSCOTCH; TEETER TOTTER, DOLLS, ALL SORTS OF GAMES. AS I GREW OLDER SHE WAS MY ADVICE GIVER; SHARER OF MY GIGGLES; AND BLESSED ME BY GIVING ME AWAY WITH MY DAD AT MY WEDDING. DAD HAS GONE ON TO HEAVEN NOW AND MOM IS ALONE. I AM CONTINUALLY AMAZED AT HER FAITH WALK AND HOW SHE HAS MET THIS CHALLENGE FACE ON. I ADORE HER AND ADMIRE HER AND HOPE I CAN BE MUCH LIKE HER. SHE IS MY HERO.
Oh, Joyce, that is so sweet. Thank you for sharing the story of your Hero with us!
My Nana, a depression era survivor, taught me the value of being thankful for what you have and never wasting a thing. While I haven’t quite come to the point of washing and reusing my aluminum foil as she does, her wisdom has taught me many tricks to get through the last few years on our very humble budget.
Thank you, Molly, for sharing your thoughts. My parents and grandparents were all depression era survivors, as well. And, yes, there were certainly some rather odd (to me) frugal things they adhered too long after the depression was over. Aluminum foil was absolutely a luxury and I remember pieces of the stuff drying all over the kitchen. Other things I remember are there were no paper towels… floursack towels instead. I also remember my Gramma rinsing her dishes in a bucket of water… not under running water like wasteful me. 🙁 Thank you again for sharing (and stirring) these memories.
Margo – so funny – if we said we were bored, we got a REALLY boring job like “carry this brick around the house until I tell you to stop” or “rake up those leaves and put them in the humus pile”! I rarely had that problem, since I love to read, but my brother really got sick of walking around with a brick!
This makes me laugh, Kelley, because I remember too that those chores we got because we said we were bored were also the worse chores ever. “carry a brick around the house” – awesome! We got weeding the garden, which I hated… and my Mom and Dad knew it. 😉
My Mom and my Grandmothers passed on so much wisdom, it is hard to choose just one thing! I guess it would be the ability to “make do with what you’ve got” and to never lose sight of the fact that God is there for you always.
Thank you, Rachel, for sharing your thoughts. Yes, ‘making do’ was a theme in our family, as well. And being cheerful at the same time with less. These women were truly remarkable! Thanks again.
My mom taught me that y ou shouldn’t have favorites. I had an older brother and in our family there had only been one boy to carry on the family name for many generations so of course having a boy was special. When I came along Mom said that the family made a difference between him and I and that when I got old enough to notice she put her foot down and told them that if they brought Roger a gift they also had to bring me something – because it wasn’t fair. I always remembered this and I have tried to do the same thing in my life. Just imagine being a child and your sibling gets something and you don’t – how awful. Of course, this excludes Birthdays.
Thank you, Rhonda, for sharing your thoughts and your great insight. Yes, my family was careful about singling any one child out for special attention (except birthdays, where Mom and Dad went all out.) Special attention can cause a lot of strife between the siblings that some parents may not be attune to. I’m glad your mom understood this and gave you such a valuable lesson in fairness. Thanks again for sharing.
I was an adopted child. One day I found a poem in my mom’s stuff. She said it was on the wall of the adoption agency. I’ve never forgotten it and share it frequently.
“Not flesh of my flesh, nor bone of my bone,
Yet still, miraculously, my own.
Never forget for a single minute,
You didn’t grow under my heart, but in it.”
Anonymous
ahhhh… Doreen, thank you for sharing that poem with us. I tell you, it sends chills up my spine. My daughter and family are in the process of adopting a Latvian girl they hosted last year. I can’t think of her any other way than as my granddaughter. I understand the poem. Funny how it happens that way. I really appreciate you sharing your story with us.
My mom has been a huge inspiration to me. She gave me the Gift of laughter. When you are laughing life does not seem so bad. I am so thankful for this.
Thank you, Julie, for sharing your thoughts with us. Yes, laughter is the great healer. Through my family’s toughest times, we found that if we shared stories that made us laugh (even through the tears) the healing began and we could move ahead. Thank you again for stopping by and commenting.
My Mum taught me how to dance while no one is watching and sing like no one is listening. I do this regularly and it definitely embarrasses my teenagers.
Good for you, Nicky! My Mom also taught us something similar. We were told “If you can’t sing good, sing loud.” And we sure did! And God gave us teenagers just for the sheer pleasure of embarrassing them! So enjoy! And, thanks for stopping by and commenting.
My Mom never had an easy life. She paid the bills by baby sitting and she could stretch a dollar better than anyone I know. She raised 5 children and taught us all that the best gifts are the ones you make yourself because you put so much of yourself into them. Mom has been gone for 9 years now and I still look at something and wonder how she would have made it her own. The things she gave me are some of the most treasured that I have because there is little of Mom in each one and a lot of love.
Thank you, Deb, for sharing this touching tribute to your Mom. Yes, I have many of the things Mom made for me, and I cherish them all. Knowing she planned, then touched every stitch of thread or stroke of the pen, is all I need to bring my memories back. These treasures are important as they relay the stories about our lives. Thank you again for sharing.
I am one of nine children and we lived in a three bedroom rambler. Raised by both parents but in the early days my dad worked as a labor at night for the extra money. I don’t know how my mom did it. Most of us two years apart. I nor my siblings never lacked for anything. The holidays were a beautiful thing with so much family and memories abound. We lost our parents eleven months apart.
We had a discussion shortly after, we all thought we were the favorite child. How does anyone make nine children feel they were the favorite child?
Ah, Cherie, that was such a precious gift your parents gave you. To feel that each and every one of you was the favorite is a wonderful legacy, indeed. They had a hard job to do, and they did it. Thank you for sharing this touching story.
My mom always taught me to be kind to others no matter what I thought about them because nobody is perfect.
Thank you for sharing that thought, Lori. Yes, nobody is perfect and we never know what trials they are dealing with. Your kindness can sometimes be the first nice thing that happens to a person that day. Thank you again for sharing.
My mom taught me to look at life creatively. When the ceiling leaked, Mom painted angels peeking through. When the Sunday school needed a play, she wrote one. She filled bookshelves with interesting old things she found at garage sales (in the early days, when garage sales shouted, “Antiques from the basement.”) And so I, too, try to look at life creatively. It makes the good days even more exciting and it provides encouragement and insight when times are tough.
Thanks, Barb, for stopping by and commenting! What a wonderful legacy your Mom is leaving you. And I like how you phrased it… not just a matter of being creative, but she taught you to “look at life creatively.” There’s a big difference between being creative and LIVING creatively. I bet your Mom actually could “see” the angels in the ceiling that needed painting. Rather than wait for someone to do something, it takes a special person to just take what is handed to her and make it work. And, yes, days are bound to be better when you look at life creatively. Thanks again for sharing these wonderful stories of your Mom. I really appreciate it!
My mother was born during the Depression and quit school in the 8th grade because she felt so guilty that her mother was home taking care of my mom’s eight brothers and one sister!
She’s a worker. From sun-up to sun-down, while she was still strong and full of energy (up until a year or so ago — and she’ll be 83 on Saturday) . She was/is a big believer in DIY. She painted, cut acres of grass with a push mower a few times a week (so it looks nice!) still washes clothes with a wringer washer and hangs them out to dry. She probably still irons pillow cases and handkerchiefs. The lesson: there’s always something you can be doing!
Thank you, Sandy, for sharing this touching story. Your mother sounds a lot like mine; very strong spirited and self-reliant. When I read the lesson – “there’s always something you can be doing!” – I could almost hear my Mom’s voice and my Gramma’s voice. Those are definitely words that many women, especially of the depression era, lived by. Thanks again for commenting and sharing your memories.
My mother taught me that no matter what happens in life, my intelligence is one thing that can never be taken away from me.
Thanks for the chance to win – your cookbook looks like a perfect fit for our family. My mouth is watering already.
Thank you so much, Marla, for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. That is a very valuable lesson to learn, indeed. My Mom was a reader and studier of life, too. When she was interested in something, she dug in and learned everything she could about it. And those interests lasted a lifetime! Thanks for taking the time to comment!
Hi,
I wrote a post last year that included an essay from an anthology about wisdom from our mothers.
Here’s the link:https://cyclingrandma.wordpress.com/2011/05/02/wisdom-of-my-mother/
Thank you, Lisa! Knowing your writing, it’s going to be a fabulous read. Going there to check it out now. 😉 Thanks again for taking the time to stop by and share.
Okay, read and commented! What an excellent read and wonderful tribute to your mother. Isn’t it amazing where we can find our life lessons? I recommend everyone here click on and read this. It’s a warm and touching story. Thanks for sharing, Lisa. Wisdom of My Mother
My mom always told me the older you get, the faster time passes by. Of course, this was so funny when I was a child. How could time really go by any faster? But now that I am older myself, I see what she means. Each year passes by faster and faster, and there are many times I just want to stop time and savor the moment, but life does pass by way too quickly. So I just do what I can to enjoy each and every minute.
Thank you, Debbie, for sharing your Mom’s wisdom. It’s so true! I remember hearing the same thing from my Mom and other elders and thinking they were nuts. And now, I look back on 20 years and they are but a blink of the eye. I am trying to explain this to my daughter now and she is starting to understand, especially watching her kids grow. But, it gets worse every year, and that is something she is not ready to accept yet… at least not entirely. There is no preparing someone for the time warp that happens as we age. I know it will get worse for me as I move into the next decades. So, yes, “savor the moment” is a good thing to remember. Thanks again for this gentle reminder from your Mom.
In my toughest days of being a young adult, my Mom would always politely remind me that “attitude is everything” and “you just gotta wanna”! These words frequently come to mind today as I go about my daily life and raise my own two Tweens.
Thank you, Tally. Yes, attitude is everything, isn’t it. If we set our mind on something and approach it with a positive attitude, no matter what happens, the journey is a joyful one. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and your Mom’s lesson.
That is so true!!! and When I was a teenager I thought my mom knew nothing !!! And too find out, she probably understood more than I knew she did. As with my own daughter who thinks I am clueless…. I do understand more that she thinks I do. And when she has kids of her own…she will too see that.
Thank you, Tracy, for sharing your thoughts. It reminds me of a little saying that goes something like this; “My parents were so stupid when I was a teenager. It’s amazing how smart they got after I grew up.” And yes, all you can do is wait patiently for your teenager to see how smart you get. 😉 My daughter has a daughter now and Karma is working overtime! Thanks again for stopping by and commenting.
My late mother was a Holocaust survivor. When she was liberated, all she had was the striped uniform on her back. Her family had all perished. She and my father came to this country and had to learn a new language and way of life. She died a middle class woman with a home, pension, and family. One summer when I was 15 I was a camp counselor. We got paid very little and relied on the tips we received at the end of the summer. One particularly difficult boy’s parents gave me nothing, and I was steaming mad. I came home to my mother and she said, “Thank God you don’t need it.” That one comment has stayed with me the rest of my life. Any person I have told this story to, and there have been many, have felt the same way.
Oh my goodness, Judy. Your story is so touching and that statement your mother made sent chills up my spine. I know that belief must have been deeply, deeply felt. What an incredible lesson to learn. Thank you so much for sharing your mother’s lesson.
When I was 18, I couldn’t wait to get out of my mother’s house and away from all the rules. After years, I moved back to be with my parents (age 44). I learned from my mom that it is never too late to become a friend with your mother. We would lie on her kingsize bed and watch tv, do some type of craftwork (usually crocheting), or just about anything. Most of the time we didn’t even talk. We had a companionable friendship that I will never forget. I am glad I had that time to become her friend before she passed on.
Thank you so much for sharing your touching memories with us, Marilyn. It truly is never too late to grow closer in a relationship. As teenagers, there’s often nothing that feels more desperate than leaving home. My Mom always used to lament that just when she was starting to ‘like’ her kids (not love us, but like us) we moved out. It doesn’t seem fair that just as we’re getting interesting to be around, our mothers have to say goodbye. But, as was in your case, the time comes to re-connect and bond. So, at 44 your mother got to have you back again which was a precious gift for both of you, I’m sure. Thank you again for stopping by and commenting.
My mom taught me how to not let illness get you down. My mom had many health problems, and had to have kidney dialysis. But still, she insisted to cook family dinners, and always had the whole family for holidays. No matter how much we told her not to over -do, she wanted (needed) to do it. Fast forward: Mom has since passed on to be with our Lord, and now I carry on her traditions. And even though I have a heart condition and other serious illnesses (including CFIDS and Fibromyalgia), I still have the whole family for holidays. I also bake dozens and dozens of banana breads and hundreds of dozens of cookies for elderly and ill friends and neighbors throughout the year. And I often get asked why I do it and wear myself out when I should be resting. My mother passed her love of baking and cooking to me. And like my Mom said to me, when she cooked and baked, it took her mind off of her illness by doing something she loved. And she felt useful. It made her happy when people enjoyed what she cooked or baked for them And I totally feel the same!
Thank you, Marlene, for sharing this touching memory of your mom. Giving into illness, letting it take over your body, mind, and soul, is such a loss. Not only for the person who is sick, but for everyone around them. Your mom, and now you, have certainly found the way to live life to the fullest, regardless of the hand you were dealt. Labors of love, like baking and cooking, are healing, even when the hands hurt and the back aches. Thank you again for sharing your thoughts and the memories of your mom with us.
So many sweet and wonderful memories shared here. My Mom, thankfully, is still with me. She taught me the value of hard work and that doing for my family is a way of expressing that love. She sewed and cooked and canned, baked bread and was PTA President. I have a memory of her up washing the floor at 5am as I was sneaking in from a late night in high school. It hit me then, how much she sacrificed for us.
Thank you, Jennifer, for sharing your memories. You’re fortunate to understand your Mom’s sacrifices so young in life. What a powerful lesson to learn, probably along with the knowledge that nothing gets by your Mom. Sneaking in at 5 a.m., eh? Could that possibly be another reason she was up scrubbing the floors – waiting for one little girl to walk in the door? Brings back memories of my own. Teenagers… sheesh! Thank you again for stopping by and commenting.
My own mum died when I was six months old, and we lived with her sister until Dad remarried when I was three. He died when I was 7 years old. My aunt and uncle wanted to adopt my sister and I then, but my stepmother didn’t agree to it. She has been an amazing mum and I very seldom think of her as a step-mother. She taught us to put God first, and tithe even when it hurts and we don’t know if we will have enough money for the coming week! She also taught us to reverence God’s word and believe that it means exactly what it says. Last year she gave me a sum of money that she had managed to invest from my Dad so my husband and I could go on a mission trip to Papua New Guinea, even though she would be lonely, saying that she would not stop us if that was what God wanted us to do! I want my kids and grandchildren to learn all that from me too.
Thank you, Jocelyn, for sharing your touching story. With all the loss in your life, it sounds like you never turned inward, and actually turned outward, to help others. What a nice legacy from all your parents. You have a giving heart and that’s a lesson that any mother would be proud to pass on to her children.
My mother grew up in the war in London so she always said we could never waste anything, especially food. Every leftover was always used somehow whether it be in a Shepherd’s Pie or just a monstrous hash. Even though we always struggled (as many years she was a single mother) she always made sure we had food on the table. That was her biggest concern! My mother now is 93 and has Alzheimer’s but she still appreciates any little thing I bring up for her to the nursing home. Last night we brought up her Mother’s Day gift and she says “I don’t deserve this. I am so lucky as you always just spoil me.” I told her “I know you spoiled us at some point too I’m sure.” I just hope I can have another few years with her!
Thank you so much, Lesley, for sharing this touching story. Those war years taught so many of our mothers how to be grateful for every scrap of food. And, like your mother, I think the ability to feed their family on so little was a source of pride. Such resourcefulness and strength should always be celebrated, don’t you think? It’s so wonderful that you can celebrate Mother’s Day with your mother and tell her how much you appreciate her. Thank you again for sharing these memories with us.
Meals should be remembered. I have so many fond memories of my mom cooking up a big meal for my dad and 6 children. Every single night we ate at the table. As I got older, I began being the potato peeler because dad had to have mashed potatoes at every meal. I can peel 10 potatoes in no time flat, faster then any serviceman on kitchen duty! I also had to do the dishes from the time I was 9 years old and in those days we did not have dishwashers. My mom meals never disappointed and I treasure each and every moment. I am so thankful. Thank you mama, a day before mother’s day!
Thank you, Christine, for sharing your memories. And, yes, meals SHOULD be remembered and celebrated! That’s exactly what Memory Lane Meals is about. Your household sounds very similar to mine. I know what you mean about the potato peeling. With 11 kids in our family, my Mom would throw a bag of potatoes on the table and we’d have to get them peeled and in the pot fast. We would use potato peelers, too, instead of paring knives like some families I knew. The peelings would just be flying everywhere! Then we had to wash all the dishes by hand, just like you. Our kitchen was a busy place and I cherish the memories I have of those days. It’s funny to say that peeling potatoes and washing dishes is something to be thankful for, but it is. Thank you again for sharing your thoughts with us on this day before Mother’s Day.
My mom was the most organized person I have ever met. She tried very hard to instill this trait in me…but alas, I am more like my dad, who was a piler. She grew up on a homestead in New Mexico and they really didn’t have much. My grandmother could make anything out of basically nothing! Now that I am older and trying to get some order in my house (and my life) I wish that I had paid more attention to what she tried to teach me.
Thank you, Debi, for sharing your thoughts with us. Isn’t that always the case? We get to a certain age and think; “Why didn’t I pay attention when they tried to teach me!” My Gramma tried to teach each of us girls how to tat (make lace.) Nope. Couldn’t be bothered. Do you know what a thrill it would be now, in my older years, to be able to make lace edgings just like Gramma!? Yes, we all seem to have those lessons we would treasure, if only we’d been smarter sooner. Thank you again for stopping by and taking the time to comment.
What a treasure to step back in time and have the same recipes that our mothers and grandmothers used for everyday life. There was an old treadle sewing machine in the corner of the kitchen where we sat to finish eating while the table was cleaned.
We loved old fashioned meatloaf and baked potatoes plus a home grown vegetable and a molded jello dessert.
Thank you, Joyce, for sharing your thoughts. Old fashioned cooking is the best. Funny you should mention molded jello dessert. My Mom was so intrigued with all the jello desserts. We had the salad variety (carrots, lime, mayonnaise) and the super desserts (whipped ice cream type) and loved them all. We had a nice garden, too, so everything beyond meat was picked or dug and we loved it all. The jello was such a nice treat! Thanks for sharing!