I’ve been missing my mom lately. More than usual. With wedding planning in full throttle I wish she was closer to help with all the little details. When people attack my blog — my space — and tell me I lack talent and depth, I want to curl up next to her and let it melt away. (PS – those comments? Deleted. And will be every time you come back here. Move on, assface.)
When I get sick, I still want my mom to make it better. When I’m excited about something or get a raise, I still call her right away. We finally get to see each other in 26 days and I cannot wait, but in the meantime, I thought I’d pull this out of the archives and pay tribute to the superwoman who raised me, my mom.
100 Things I Learned from My Mom
1. Always be polite.
2. Always keep a savings account and hold your own checkbook, even when you’re married.
3. You’re never too old to cozy.
4. If you want long hair, you have to take care of it.
5. You didn’t actually vacuum if you went around the shoes.
6. Lying is hurtful and disrespectful.
7. No one can take away your education.
8. You should always have enough money for first and last month’s rent, an unexpected car problem and a good pair of shoes.
9. Sometimes ice cream before dinner is OK.
10. A man should be hardworking, educated and kind. He must have a sense of humor and a job. He must respect you.
11. No matter what, you can always come home.
12. Fingers do not belong in your nose…unless they are clean. And never in public.
13. There is a very fine line between tasteful and inappropriate cleavage.
14. Always call or send a thank-you card.
15. You can accomplish anything if you work hard.
16. Tattoos and body piercings that are chic now eventually go out of style the same way clothing and hairstyles do. Tattoos are forever (and I will be out of the will.)
17. Travel.
18. Do not make fun of people who are different from you.
19. Good friends are important.
20. Always keep good dark chocolate in the house.
21. Hot dogs and spaghetti are boring. Eat ethnic food!
22. Learn a foreign language.
23. Know the history behind different religions.
24. Don’t let people push you around. Compose your thoughts and make your point.
25. Exercise.
26. Play an instrument. (Or two)
27. Laugh.
28. Say “I Love You.”
29. Dance around your living room in your socks to good music.
30. Read for pleasure.
31. Money doesn’t grow on trees. You have to earn it.
32. Family always comes first.
33. Driving is a privilege, not a right.
34. Making your bed makes the whole room look neater.
35. A hotel room doesn’t have to be fancy, but it must have clean sheets and a clean bathroom.
36. The sun makes you happy.
37. Don’t drink and drive.
38. Don’t clean the kitchen sink with the bathroom sponge.
39. Plant a garden.
40. Drink soy milk.
41. Take vitamins.
42. Take chances.
43. If you need your mom, she’s there. Day or night.
44. Burritos are a quick dinner that always tastes good.
45. Always make a traveling pee pee.
46. You might look funny in snow boots, but your feet will be warm and dry.
47. Take pictures.
48. Write.
49. Never leave candles unattended.
50. Good sheets make all the difference.
51. How to make the perfect “dip dip” egg.
52. Every Christmas ornament has a story.
53. To value myself.
54. To be open-minded.
55. That even though women are completely capable, sometimes it’s easier to hire a man to tile a floor or paint a wall.
56. It’s OK to cry at movies.
57. That when you have to go, you have to go. Everybody poops.
58. A messy closet is an unhappy closet.
59. A mirror can make the whole room look bigger.
60. Cheese is a necessity.
61. It’s OK to love shoes.
62. Eyeliner makes small eyes bigger.
63. Don’t procrastinate.
64. That when the leaves show their palms, it’s going to rain.
65. There’s nothing better than a maple sugar candy.
66. Wear sunscreen.
67. Floss.
68. Be on top of current events.
69. Hair grows back, but don’t mess with it too much.
70. Sing.
71. Get your oil changed.
72. Balance your checkbook.
73. That she’s proud of me.
74. Smile.
75. You can love the ocean without actually going in it.
76. Don’t eat too much candy. It will rot your teeth.
77. And if it does, get the white filling.
78. Learn your family history.
79. Appreciate art.
80. Don’t eat processed foods.
81. Drink lots of fluids when you’re sick.
82. Get lots of calcium.
83. Call just to say hi.
84. Eliminate clutter.
85. It’s true, socks do disappear in the dryer.
86. Dress appropriately for an interview.
87. It’s OK to flirt.
88. Always carry a Bandaid, Advil and Chapstick.
89. Eat tomatoes and peas right off the vine.
90. Get a hummingbird feeder.
91. Drive slowly in the snow.
92. When tying your shoes bunny ears work just as well as the other way.
93. Believe in something bigger than yourself.
94. Wear interesting jewelry.
95. Voting is a right that not everyone in the world is fortunate to have. Use it.
96. Brunettes are even sexier than blondes because they have more mystery and soul. They didn’t get a free ride because of their hair color – they earned it. (UPDATED: But it’s OK to die your hair blonde if you look fabulous as one! I’m not going back!)
97. A girl can buy her own diamonds.
98. Trust your instincts.
99. Learn from your mistakes.
100. Your mother is always right.
29 comments
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June 3, 2008 at 9:37 am
Ali
Great post! Moms rock!
June 3, 2008 at 9:38 am
Audrey
Your blog makes my day better every single morning. You’re the first thing I check when I get to work after my e-mail. Thank you for being you and for sharing your life with us!
June 3, 2008 at 9:48 am
DevilsHeaven
I think I might print that list out. Sometimes we forget what our moms have said to us. And hopefully soon, I’ll need something to draw from.
June 3, 2008 at 9:48 am
Jessica
Too sweet!
#1. I LOVE maple sugar candy.
#2. I only use bunny ears to tie my shoes. My Gram taught me to do it that way, and I refuse to change =).
P.S. Boo to the haters!
June 3, 2008 at 10:06 am
penelope
I feel like I just learned a life time of lessons from your momma. She sounds like a wonderful lady, I can see why you miss her.
June 3, 2008 at 10:09 am
gibsondog
God Bless our mothers. They are amazing!
Thanks for sharing! Reading this had given me a soft heart. I think I am going to call my mom and tell her I love her now.
Smiles!
June 3, 2008 at 10:09 am
Rose
Great list Molly! I love and miss my mom too…
What’s a traveling pee pee? (#45)
June 3, 2008 at 10:29 am
Valerie
Where was your mother when I needed her???
I really wish I had saw #10 before I got into that relationship that wasn’t a relationship. Now I just feel slightly hurt and stupid but I will remember that advice for the next time!
June 3, 2008 at 10:30 am
La Petite Belle
First of all, how awful that you get hate mail! You know what that means, that you’re popular 😉 don’t let it get to you. That’s what they want to achieve! You cannot let them!
Also it sounds like you have ONE heck of a mama. I wish I had a close relationship with mine. She’s weird, though 😦
June 3, 2008 at 11:24 am
Guilty Secret
Your mum is a legend! Is she by any chance Mary Schmich? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wear_Sunscreen)
I loved this post 🙂
June 3, 2008 at 11:29 am
Melanie
What a fabulous post! I hope your mom reads this one. It reminds me of much of what my own mom has taught me.
June 3, 2008 at 11:29 am
Melissa
Mom’s are the best. I always want my mom when I don’t feel well.
June 3, 2008 at 12:21 pm
libby
loved this post! 100 things? is so just the tip of the iceberg!
June 3, 2008 at 12:33 pm
pie
shocking. here i am crying at another molly post. I miss my mom sooo much these days it hurts. I cannot wait for the much needed mom hug I am going to get on Saturday.
June 3, 2008 at 12:44 pm
JenBun
This is great, Molls! 🙂
Also? You are an overachiever (hee!)– I did something like this for my mom on Mother’s Day, but I just did one for every year she has been a mother– although I’m sure that sometimes it FEELS like 100 years, it has only been 27!
Anyway, very sweet. I always miss my mom if she’s not around and anything of any significance happens at all.
Yay for seeing her soon!
♥
June 3, 2008 at 1:40 pm
bing
This was a great post! It’s neat to think of the many things that our moms have taught us over the years and how we carry them with us to this day. I’m glad you get to have mom and daughter time soon! 🙂
June 3, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Dani
i love your mom, nuff said.
June 3, 2008 at 2:42 pm
bloggingbarbie
loved this post and totally related with sooo many of these statements. our mamma’s know how to raise us right. 😉
i love you lady. lotsly.
xoxo
June 3, 2008 at 2:59 pm
lucythevaliant
Yay for mammas! I hated planning my wedding without my mom… I remember crying the day I bought my dress because she wasn’t able to be there and help my pick it out.
June 3, 2008 at 3:30 pm
phanatic74
Nice Post . . . . . . .
June 3, 2008 at 3:52 pm
your mom
i can’t wait to see you either molly so i can hug you!!
i am honored that you are keeping a list of 100 things you learned from me (guess it all wasn’t in vain). i have a list of 100 things my own mom taught me too….. it’s nice to see some of it has gone through another generation!
i am lucky to have wonderful, beautiful girls.
and don’t let those jealous posters who need to puke their venom all over your blog get to you. people who have such a small life that they have to seek out someone else’s blog to spill their excess of bile are just bottom-feeders.
xoxo
June 3, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Kate
Your mother is amazing! So many of her bits of wisdom are things I should remember more often.
June 3, 2008 at 7:20 pm
JP
Is it OK to eat ice cream before lunch? Because I did today. And it was delicious!
June 3, 2008 at 7:39 pm
Beggars are Choosers « PomJob
[…] June 3, 2008 @ 6:39 pm } · { Uncategorized } { } Molly wrote a post today praising her Momma and listing 100 things she’s learned from her. 9. […]
June 3, 2008 at 7:47 pm
Kate
Uhm, your mom sounds AWESOME. So THAT’S where you get it from! 😉
LOVED #96 BTW!
Seriously girl, don’t let those idiots get you down. You and your blog are both amazing and no stupid comment will make it otherwise.
June 3, 2008 at 9:11 pm
lwayswright
My mom died a year ago february. I miss her everyday. Enjoy every moment you have with your mom…even if it’s on the phone. Great list of things about your mom by the way. And don’t ever ever let anyone tell you that you are not talented. I had that happen in College by a professor and i stopped writing for 10 years! Since then I have found out that talent is in the eye of the beholder/reader just like beauty is! Don’t listen to nay sayers who want to mess with your brain…just keep doin what you’re doing.
June 3, 2008 at 10:00 pm
Miss A
sorry ma, but spag bol it is for me 😉
June 3, 2008 at 11:10 pm
Princesstaj
Great list!!! Had dinner with my mom tonight – gave her an extra hug 🙂
June 4, 2008 at 10:36 am
rachellutterman
awwww….this makes me miss my mom!! Great idea for a post too!