1. Always eat a meal as a family - even if it is late after swim practice or band concerts.
2. The seam ripper is your friend. This is something I haven't learned yet.
3. You'll appreciate it more if you pay for it yourself.
4. Butter is better than margarine.
5. Establish a church family. They will be there when something happens, often with casseroles.
6. Don't wear cowboy boots with shorts. You will look like the "dork of the century, Matt!"
7. Family vacations bring you closer as a family.
8. Don't keep the car door open when you are driving out of the garage.
9. Always lick the beaters.
10. Soap operas are a good thing.
11. It's never too late to learn a hobby.
12. You don't have to like it, just do it. I still don't like cleaning although I do it...but not often enough.
13. No matter how much you love your kids, you are going to bump heads with them.
14. You can truly stretch a dollar with egg sandwiches and fried hotdogs covered in barbeque sauce.
15. Dessert is good after every meal...or for breakfast.
16. She taught me about religion "You better pray that will come out of the carpet."
17. You should engage the lawnmower. It will go a lot faster and easier that way.
18. She taught me how to keep an eye on my neighbors...and yes I'm becoming a Mrs. Kravitz too.
19. A little bit of chocolate can help get the greasy taste out of your mouth. And makes you feel better.
20. Don't lie. Parents always know when you are lying.
21. Coupon clipping can save money.
22. You should watch the news to know what is going on in the world.
23. Be good to others.
24. She taught me about logic - "Because I said so, that's why."
25. You don't have to wear a lot of makeup to be pretty.
26. Homemade gifts are just as good or better than gifts that are store bought.
27. Children are fun to play with. So babysit other people's kids and love them like they are your own.
28. When something is ugly on the outside it's nice on the inside. My first car had an orange roof and I did not want to drive that to school because of the orange roof. Her response - you can't see the orange roof when you are driving it. I loved that car - very easy to find in a parking lot.
29. She taught me that you can truly listen to about anything. I'm sure listening to me practice the flute for hours every night was not the most pleasant thing.
30. Don't walk barefoot especially when there is a seamstress in the house. Needles and pins hurt.
31. You can never have enough bandaids in the house.
32. Being smart does not make you a nerd.
33. You can be frugal with the heating and air conditioner. I'm not quite as frugal as she is - I can't wait until July 4th to turn on the air conditioner.
34. Make your bed everyday. I still haven't learned this one..but I do like the days I come home to a pretty made bed.
35. Even though you don't always "show" love, people know you love..or at least I hope so.
36. My mother taught me about stamina..."You'll sit there until you've taken 3 bites of liver and onions."
37. Learn how to get gum out of everything - hair,carpet, clothes.
38. It's ok to dump and pour when you cook. You don't always have to follow the recipe.
39. It's never too early to teach your kids to do chores. Yes Colton has also learned that one!
40. Be punctual.
41. Be thrifty.
42. If you work hard, you can then play hard. I hope that I get to vacation as much as she does when I get her age.
43. Laughter is the best medicine. And you can laugh as loud as you want.
44. Keep your hands busy. I think this is why I can't just sit and watch tv.
45. She taught me to be self-reliant.
46. My mom taught me about weather. "Matt, your room looks like a tornado went through it."
47. She taught me creativity and ingenuity. You can create and make things when money is tight.
48. You can never wash your hands too many times.
49. She taught me about foresight..."Make sure you wear clean underwear. You never know when you'll be in an accident."
50. She taught me to have an opinion. Sometimes it's best to keep your opinion to yourself...but that hasn't always sunk in.
51. You should listen in class especially when it is something your mom is not good at explaining....like womanly things. Sorry mom but "just stick it up there" doesn't help a teenage girl figure out how to use a tampon.
52. Know your surroundings. You might trip and fall if you are not watching.
53. Everything will eventually be ok.
54. Try to do the right thing- no matter how hard it is.
55. My mother taught me about my my roots..."Were you born in a barn?"
56. Wash your sheets once a week. I hope my stinky kid appreciates this one.
57. You can never have too much food.
58. A good education is important.
59. Tough love never killed anyone.
60. She's currently teaching me how to spoil my grandkids!
61. Save money for a rainy day.
62. Encourage your kids talents and dreams no matter what they are.
63. Naps are a good thing.
64. My mom taught me irony. "Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about."
65. Not only carry clean underwear but you might need to carry an extra pair of underwear.
66. She taught me how to get up and go to work everyday, even when you don't want to.
67. Traditions should be carried on- family dinners are important.
68. Always do the dishes right away. Nope haven't learned this one either...but it saves you time if you don't wait until things get all gunked up and dried on.
69. Never pass up a good deal.
70. Appreciate your family and its history.
71. You can never have enough chapstick.
72. Clothes should be ironed and nails should be clean.
73. She taught me how to bake.
74. Responsibility. You are responsible for your own actions. You are responsible for your own children. Responsibility is important.
75. Women can do a lot of things.
76. Underbake your cookies. Let them bake the last minute on the counter in the pan.
77. You can reuse things or repurpose things...like grocery bags for bathroom trashcan liners.
78. She taught me a love of entertaining.
79. It's never too early to start planning for tomorrow...or the next 50 years.
80. Farts are still funny when you are an adult.
81. Enjoy what you have.
82. Be kind to your neighbors - make them cookies. You never know when you're going to need their help.
83. Always take a jacket (and kleenex and cash) - you never know when you're going to need it.
84. Don't worry about everything. Still working on this one but getting better.
85. She taught me that not everything is fair.
86. Bags of shredded cheese can be frozen.
87. Do things right the first time.
88. If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything.
89. Kids should read and learn to love to read.
90. Women are strong - usually stronger than men.
91. Everyone is welcome to come over. She was always willing to have my friends come over and have slumber parties, tent parties and just hang out.
92. Eat, you'll feel better. Maybe I learned this one a little too well.
93. You can be in and out of a store if you know exactly what you want so make a list.
94. There's always room to put one more thing in there....a little fancy maneuvering in the fridgerator or your closet.
95. Breakfast for dinner is great comfort food.
96. Spend time with the elderly. You never know how long they will be here.
97. Don't add too much flour - keep your dough sticky.
98. Save your old stuff. It goes great in grandma's grabbag.
99. Singing in the car is a great outlet. My music may not be Sawyer Brown or Barry Manilow but I can wail like a pro!
100. Motherhood is an unappreciated job. How often do kids really appreciate all their mothers do for them - the sacrifices they make, the early mornings, the late hours, the cleaning up vomit and poop? She was strict and we tried to be good kids. For that I'm grateful - just took me a while to get here.
So for all that you've taught me, intentional or not....thanks MOM! LOVE YOU!
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