Mothers are a good thing. As a youngster once said, “If it weren’t for mothers, things would sure be in a heck of a mess!”
Hard to argue with that thinking, right?
Through a mother’s unique logic and understanding, she inspires, cajoles and guides her children through the complicated maze of childhood and prepares them for the sometimes harsh realities of later life. As the growing years roll on, she conveys the importance of learning love, compassion, hard work, sense of humour, and a zillion other things that will stand her children in good stead for the future.
Let’s ponder some of the things that mothers contribute. Some are funny, some serious, but all are part of the process of growing up:
• Human relations: “Well, I really don’t think that hitting Billy is the way to solve that problem.”
• Practical thinking: “Well, if you kids are going to kill each other, do it outside please. I just finished cleaning in here.”
• Religion, as in: “You just better pray that will come out of the carpet.”
• Financial stability: “A piggy bank is a good idea. It teaches you the importance of saving for the future.”
• Hyperbole: “Do you think we’re made of money?”
• Logic: “Because I said so, that’s why.”
• Relativity: “Children are starving all over the world and would love to eat that potato!”
• Foresight: “Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you’re in an accident.”
• Cause and effect: “If you eat any more of that now, you’ll spoil your appetite for supper.”
• Irony: “Keep laughing like that and I’ll give you something to cry about.”
• Contortionism: “Will you look at the dirt on the back of your neck.”
• Patience: “You’ll sit there until all those peas are gone from your plate.”
• Weather: “It looks like a tornado swept through your room.”
• Exaggeration: “If I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a thousand times, don't exaggerate.”
• Examples: “Stop acting like your father.”
• Comparisons: “There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don’t have wonderful parents like you do.”
• Determination: “I don’t care how much you nag, we will not be buying any candy in this store.”
• Consequences: “If you keep a messy room now, you’ll probably grow into a messy adult.”
• Hard work: “If you want an expensive smartphone like that, you’ll just have to work for the money.”
• Ecology: “There’s no way we’re wasting all this food. We’re having leftovers and that’s final.”
• Persistence: “For the last time, please tidy up your bedroom.”
• Envy: “Just because your friends have swimming pools, that doesn’t mean we can afford one.”
• Desperation: “Could we please have some help shovelling the snow off the driveway.”
• Compassion: “Well, I guess you can have another cookie. But, just one more.”
• Negotiation: “You and your brother will just have to work that out between the two of you.”
• Rigidity: “No, we will not be having any pet frogs in your bedroom.”
• Understanding: “No, I’m not disappointed. I really wanted a spatula set for Christmas.”
• Firmness: “If you don’t clean your room now, there will be no TV for a week.”
• Tenderness: “Well, I suppose we could keep that puppy you found.”
• Realistic thinking: “Your father and I will pay for this now, but you’ll have to pay us back whenever you have the money.”
• Limits: “No, you may not eat all that Halloween candy tonight. Put some of it away for another time.”