Things I Learned From My Mother

 My Mom is a pro.  She is a professional Wife, a professional mother, a professional Nana, and a truly wonderful and professional Great-grandmother (or Grand-Nana).  In honor of Mothers' Day, here is a list of just a few of the lessons I have learned from her.

1. If it is not raining, go ahead and hang out the laundry.  If it rains, thank God for giving you an extra free rinse.
2. Home made granola is easy to make and good.
3. Home made buttermilk, not so much (you don't want to know the details but it did not involve a churn).
4.  Spend time with each child every evening before bed.  Read a good book, a Bible story, work on a memory verse, a catechism question or two, and teach them to pray.
5. One of the most important tools a housewife has is her thumbnail.
6. If you forget your youngest child's birth date, you will not ever live it down. 
7. Sunday dinner is incomplete without company.
8. Always read.
9. Always learn.
10. Always listen.
11. Find some handcraft to do.  Busy hands are happy hands.
12. "Yankee" style vegetables are quite economical.  Because in the south, no one eats them much.  They are really quick and easy to fix, too (just long enough to get them hot).  Except Boston Baked beans.  Those are good but they take forever.
13. Good music is as essential as good food.
14. Good music is defined as having been written before the 1900s with the exceptions of Aaron Copeland, Burl Ives, Gentleman Jim Reeves, Tennessee Ernie Ford and (gulp) John Denver.  And just for the record, I do not agree with her about John Denver.
15. Do the chores you dislike the most first and get them over with.
16. As soon as you finish the Saturday chores in the summertime, find a friendly neighbor with a pool and take the kids swimming.
17. When your child is having trouble adjusting to a new school and walks out to the car after school with "that face", hand her a map (it's a big piece of paper with all the streets and geographic landmarks), and let her navigate a 1-2 hour road trip.  Just for fun.  She might even open up and tell you what's going on.  Or she might just find some enjoyment in the day after all.
18. It is essential to know how to cut up a whole chicken.
19. NEVER put cast iron cookware in the dishwasher.
20. Always be ready for adventure; it is usually just waiting for you to find it!

 Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

Please pay no attention to the necklace.  She is convinced it is a maple leaf.