mom's rules for life - a Mothers' Day memory


I daydreamed through high school physics, but I do remember hearing that "For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction."

This is true of proverbs: compare Many hands make light work with Too many cooks spoil the broth. On Mother's Day, I happened to remember my mom fearlessly bending proverbs and sayings to serve whatever parental purpose needed emphasis. 

Thus you will not be surprised to learn that the same lady who insisted that you should never judge people by appearances, because you can't judge a book by its cover told my sister I don't need to get to know that guy, he looks like a bum and he's up to no good. And when Sister Dear persisted, Mom brought the discussion to a close: don't tell me I'll like him when I get to know him, I can read him like a book.

Mom's approach to proverbs and sayings was my introduction to situational ethics.

After all, if both things weren't true at least some of the time, there wouldn't be two proverbs.

The sun just came out, so that's enough critical thinking for one Mother's Day. I hope all of you have some enjoyable memories to share, and Happy Mother's Day to all. 

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7 comments:

  1. tiffany roseMay 12, 2013 at 4:07 PM

    Well ain't that the truth ... all of it. Happy mother's day to you, WFF.

    ReplyDelete
  2. wellfedfredMay 12, 2013 at 8:38 PM

    and to you, tiffsny

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. wellfedfredMay 12, 2013 at 9:55 PM

      oops, that was the slippery ipad keyboard acting up again.

      Delete
  3. Elephant's ChildMay 12, 2013 at 11:45 PM

    I am so grateful to hear that another mother didn't mangle precisely but certainly manipulated proverbs and saying to meet her needs (of the moment).

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    Replies
    1. wellfedfredMay 13, 2013 at 10:57 AM

      and if Mom got someone's name wrong, it stuck. As in, "how's whatsisname? yoi know, the guy I always call Lance?" This always surprised and infuriated Pop, who once said to her "When you get someone's name wrong, he's dead for the rest of his life."

      Delete
  4. ruthMay 13, 2013 at 2:55 AM

    Teehee! Wonderful contradictory logic!

    ReplyDelete

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