Things My Mamma Told Me

It's been one of those weeks. The kind that has me heading for a long soak in the tub. Which is exactly what I did this evening.

While the hot water eased my sore muscles, I reviewed the events of the day in my mind. There was a confrontation in the hallway between two girls and one of my students was right in the thick of it.

After I gave her a dressing down for being part of the drama, I called her Mom to let her know what had transpired. We commiserated about  the trials and tribulations of raising a daughter. The eye rolls, heavy sighs and the, "what do you know about what it's like to be my age?"

I started thinking back to the many pearls of wisdom my own mother shared with me over the years. I remember thinking that she wasn't always hip to the ways of a teenaged girl, but nonetheless, I respected her words. Somehow, deep down, I knew that she was probably right.

Here's a partial list of some of her best advice:

1. Always buckle up (that was uttered before it was the law.)

2. I don't condone sex before marriage, but if you decide you can't wait, use birth control.

3. Develop some hobbies. One day your kids will be gone and you will want to find creative ways to             
    fill the time.

4. Learn to cook- for yourself first and it won't hurt when you are trying to impress a guy.

5. Establish credit in your own name. Put a car in your name, have your own checking and savings
    account. 

6. Open your home to your children's friends. Make your house the welcoming one. That way you can
    keep tabs on what's going on in their lives.

7.  Don't let any man define you. Have a life of your own.

8.  Go to college, have a career, or two, or three.

9.  Reading is fundamental. 

10. Your children will be your greatest joy and sometimes your greatest heartache. They will always 
       need their Mommy.


Thanks, Mom.