Things My Momma Done Told Me . . .
This post is part of the From The Frontlines Mother's Day Tribute
My mother used to sing this song to me when I was a girl, a wee thing with the thinnest, wispiest pigtails imaginable. My mom had quite a hip swing and throaty voice; she could work the song.
Carol: October 23, 1940 to May 1, 2002
My momma done told me
When I was in pigtails
My momma done told me, hon
A man's gonna sweet-talk
And give you the glad eye
But when that sweet-talkin's done
A man is a two-faced, a worrisome thing
Who'll leave you to sing the blues in the night
In my mom's experience, a man was a two-faced, a worrisome thing. Luckily, she didn't think that meant all men, just the ones (okay, two) she had the bad judgement to marry! She also had the brains to realize that if you make one bad choice it could be a fluke, but two means maybe your judgement is all that you'd like it to be and you oughta get out of the game.
My mother's advice to me, in no particular order:
Iron everything; wrinkles are tacky.
Do not ever put a man before your child.
Life can be very hard.
A good haircut is essential and worth paying for.
Actions speak louder than words.
Don't wear white shoes before Memorial Day or after Labor Day.
Make sure you can take care of yourself; in the end you're the only one that has to.
You do your children a disservice if you let them get away with stuff because a) they're cute and b) you're soft. Once they get to a certain age, no one will care why they're brats, they'll just dislike them for being brats.
Treasure your girlfriends.
Don't put things off of to the last minute, you never know what will come up.
Hard work is a virtue.
Don't ever start smoking.
Wonderful!
Happy Mother's Day, Jenn!
Posted by:Sharon | May 11, 2008 at 01:14 AM
Happy Mother's Day to you! (My mother never taught me about the white shoes, I'm impressed)
Posted by:Nora Bee | May 11, 2008 at 02:30 AM
Words to live by.
Happy Mother's Day!
Posted by:Trudie | May 11, 2008 at 02:31 AM
Quite the lady, clearly!
Happy Mother's Day!
Heidi
Posted by:Heidi | May 11, 2008 at 08:23 AM
Wonderful photo!
hope you have a wonderful mother's day!
Posted by:Madge | May 11, 2008 at 09:27 AM
She was a looker.
Posted by:magpie | May 11, 2008 at 09:37 AM
It seems to me that you've followed her advice...
Happy Mother's Day Jenn!
Posted by:Jamie | May 11, 2008 at 10:18 AM
A Wise, Beautiful Woman.
Happy Mother's Day to ALL
Posted by:Twinkle's Mom | May 11, 2008 at 10:24 AM
Great advice! Your mother seems to have done a good job....
Posted by:Jason | May 11, 2008 at 12:06 PM
It all sound like great maternal advice. Happy Mother's Day, Jenn.
Posted by:Hilary | May 11, 2008 at 02:44 PM
Happy Mothers Day, Jenn. I hope it's been a good one.
It's not Mothers Day here - we have ours in March.
Posted by:Reluctant Blogger | May 11, 2008 at 04:17 PM
She is so beautiful. Thanks for sharing your post with me. Happy Mother's Day to you....I hope they treated you like a queen!
Posted by:Mary Alice | May 11, 2008 at 04:32 PM
Jenn,Happy Mother's Day.I agree life can be hard.and yes actions do speak louder that words.
Posted by:mike golch | May 11, 2008 at 06:05 PM
Happy Mother's Day!
And your mama?
Wow! She looks like a smokin' (not smoking) hot blues singer herself.
Great wisdom from a great lady.
Posted by:Jozet at Halushki | May 11, 2008 at 06:55 PM
Great advise - pretty mom! Hope you had a good Mother's Day Jenn- take care - Kellan
Posted by:Kellan | May 11, 2008 at 08:36 PM
Great advise - pretty mom. I hope you had a good Mother's Day, Jenn - take care - Kellan
Posted by:Kellan | May 11, 2008 at 08:37 PM
wow, your Mom had such beautiful eyes!
Posted by:Janet | May 11, 2008 at 09:08 PM
Beautiful mom, beautiful words, beautiful YOU! Hope you had a great day.
Posted by:Bipolarlawyercook | May 11, 2008 at 10:38 PM
Your mother was smart and wise. Beautiful, too.
Posted by:Jennifer H | May 11, 2008 at 10:48 PM
That photo is old school glamor Hollywood style. AWESOME. Happy Mother's Day to you!!!
Posted by:LaskiGal | May 11, 2008 at 11:49 PM
Absolutely lovely, in all respects.
Happy Mother's Day!
Posted by:kcinnova | May 12, 2008 at 06:07 AM
Wow! Your mom was a 'hotty'!! That is one gorgeous picture...you should go in and have your picture taken like that. That would be cool!!
I hope you had a wonderful day!!
Posted by:debbie | May 12, 2008 at 10:54 AM
She's so right about letting your kids get away with stuff. In the end, the brattiness is not cute AT ALL.
Your mom was so exotic looking - such enormous, sultry eyes.
Posted by:phd in yogurtry | May 12, 2008 at 11:35 AM
Your Mom was a very smart woman.
You learned well....
Posted by:Suzanne | May 12, 2008 at 01:45 PM
Your mama was a smart lady! Somehow, looking at this picture of her and reading the lyrics to that song...I'm envisioning a bit of Mae West's fiestiness in your mama!
Posted by:JCK | May 12, 2008 at 02:31 PM
OMG I think our moms were sisters or something! Same song (except she's been lucky to have 1 excellent man for 53 years) and much of the same advice. I hope I am even 1/2 the mom she is and I'd be great. Hope your mother's day was excellent! Love your blog.
Posted by:The Girl Next Door | May 12, 2008 at 07:19 PM
Since the iron came out in my home once a year, I'm pretty sure our moms didn't think alike about this one. Now MY kids on the other hand... don't even know what an iron is!!!
Posted by:CC | May 12, 2008 at 08:13 PM
Cool song and some good advice
Happy mothersday to you too
Posted by:Angela | May 13, 2008 at 12:06 AM
I love your mom's words!
Posted by:amy | May 13, 2008 at 02:54 PM