3 Things I’ve Learned From My Mom

As much as I would like to claim my… unique… view on life as my own, I’m a very boring person. I come by all of my most unusual qualities by the gift of genetics.

My mother is pretty much awesome. Not only because she’s an admirable woman with strong character, but also because she has some fun quirks that have been passed down to me and helped me become the slightly off-kilter woman I am today.

I shall give you three examples of things my Mom taught me I would not be the same had I not known.

1. Going back to an old relationship is like a dog eating its vomit. OK, she stole this idea from the Bible but it’s still really good advice. If you have a boomerang relationship – where you get together, break up, get together, break up, etc. – then you’re doing yourself a disservice. I don’t know anyone who watches a dog puke and then gobble the vomit back up and thinks, “Hm… that’s a good idea. I think I’ll try that the next time I’m in gastrointestinal distress.” Boomerang relationships are like dog chunks – there’s a reason you spewed it out and it’s not wise to lap it back up.

2. Hummingbirds are dangerous (or, little packages can be evil). My Mom believes hummingbirds will peck your eyes out because they’re attracted to the sparkle. She also believes people with little feet are mean. There’s a theme here, and in a Texan way of saying things the theme is, “The Devil is in the Details.” Little things matter. Little things that are ignored end up biting you hard in the tail end – kind of like a Pomeranian with sharp, pointy teeth and a bad attitude. Pay attention to the little things for life-long success.

3. Always wear clean underwear and clean your house before you go on vacation. My whole life I have gone on a cleaning spree before leaving the house for longer than it takes to click your heels three times and say, “There’s no place like home.” My mom taught me that if you’re in an unexpected accident you’d best be wearing clean underwear and leave your house the way you’d like to be remembered. If you want to be known as a slob, leave a messy house for the authorities to explore. If you want to be a leader, leave your house organized and clean. (Simple advice… with four kids I’m an uncomfortable inhabitant of slob camp… until an overnight trip. Then I clean, clean, clean so I’ll be considered a leader.) I don’t ask questions about the underwear, I just follow her instructions.

As you can see, the bits of wisdom I’ve gleaned from simply being in the same room with my mother are significant. Next up I’ll be sharing a few things I’ve learned from my dad.

What are some fun customs you’ve inherited from your parents?