Today, to promote their Mum of the Year awards, (Bee and Belle, if you’re reading, you can make nominations here, just saying…), Tesco have been asking people on twitter for the best piece of advice ever given to them by their mum. It got me thinking about all the weird things that I remember being told as a child, and also made me curious about what advice I’ve given that will stay with my children as they grow up.
I don’t have a very good long-term memory, and tend to rely on my sister, (who is actually four years younger than me), for key information from our childhood, but there are a few things that my mum told me that stick out in my mind, although I’m not sure I have remembered them completely accurately. I thought I would share them with you though, valuable as they are. It could save your life…
Scrambled eggs must be stirred at all times. If you really must do something important that can’t wait, like have a very quick wee, you’re allowed to stop stirring once, but no more.
Just once mind, no more…
If it’s raining, but you’re hopeful that the sun will come out soon, it’s probably a Clearing-Up Shower. I have no idea to this day whether or not this is a real thing.
Never ever run over the power cable when you are hoovering. You will die.
You see? Valuable advice indeed.
What’s the best advice your mum ever gave you?
Don’t iron. ‘The creases will fall out with the warmth from your body’ – My Mum
Love it! Absolutely agree too – the creases do fall out as you walk around!
“It doesn’t matter what you look like, as long as you’re warm”, as she wrapped me in possibly the most unflattering, scratchy wool winter coat that ever existed, and an ancient old scarf knitted by Auntie Sylvie. But I was toasty!
Mandy, when I read the first part of this, I thought you meant warm as in friendly and kind, but you meant literally warm!! That made me laugh
Ha, love it! And also love Caroline’s mum’s advice, which I adhere to strictly.
Can’t think of any humourous ones, but my mum always told me that I could do anything I wanted to do if I worked hard enough, and that she would be happy with whatever grades I got at school as long as I’d done my best. A ‘C’ in my worst subject when I’d been predicted a ‘D’ would be more celebrated than a ‘B’ in a subject where I could have reached an ‘A’. I think both have these things have helped shape the person I am today for the better.
Totally agree, and that’s exactly the kind of lesson I’d like to pass on to my own children, although I fear they may remember me more for things like my lack of ironing…
Always buy coats and shoes a size bigger just in case you need to wear a thick jumper or thick socks underneath (I suspect she had something like fishermen’s socks in mind). I still have a mental block buying something that fits me perfectly, just in case!
Brilliant! I love that kind of ‘just in ase’ advice! I actually do that with coats too, so I can’t talk. It’s true though – if it’s cold enough for a coat, you’re quite likely to have a jumper on right?? Shoes not so much…
I can’t recall my mum giving me any good advice but my gran would say ‘a respectable girl never goes into a pub alone.’ sound advice ho ho ho
Oh dear. Well that’s me out then…
[...] was sent this lovely Ortler jacket from VAUDE, and, like one of my readers on this post about things your mother taught you, I went for the next size up, ‘just in case’, and I’m really glad I did, as it only just [...]