in honor of mother’s day (a little late, as always over here) I rounded up a list of a few things my mother taught me. I always hear her voice commenting on things in my head and started writing some nance-isms down in my phone.
it’s been almost 2 years since she passed away and I still think about her and things I want to tell her every day.

*this flowering arch in the backyard blooms every year during Mother’s Day 

Nance-isms : 

“Well, people in hell want ice water” is the perfect response to someone complaining.
*I heard this appx 547,000 times in my lifetime. “what do people in hell want?” — waits for response — me : “ice water”

Watching television IS a hobby. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

Don’t have kids just because everyone else is. Wait as long as you want because you’ll never get that freedom and fun solo time as a couple time back again.

Always sing loudly even if you are tone deaf and don’t know the words.

Drinking doesn’t give you a better personality. You’re a much funnier and attractive person sober than you ever will be drinking.

Sunglasses should be on top of your head at all times.

Food just tastes better when someone else has made it for you. Even when it’s your recipe, it never tastes as good as when someone else prepares it.

Even if you fight nonstop with your siblings when you’re younger – especially in High School – the second you get to college they’ll be your best friends for life.

You must constantly talk to drivers while driving as if they can hear you complaining and telling them what to do – it makes it easier to deal with idiots on the road.  

If you love an article of clothing and wear it constantly, buy it in every color.

Marry a man who knows that if you choose to stay home with the kids, your job is just as hard as his is.  Any wins and promotions are possible because of both of your sacrifices.

The world will never be as great as when [her] generation was growing up.
* editors note : agreed. 

You don’t have to be the smartest person in the room, and anyone that acts like they are likely isn’t either.
* “You can go far as to say “I went to Harvard” if someone asks because “what, who cares, how are they going to know?” and it’s fun to see how the annoying entitled person responds.” 

Dessert is not only a primary food group, it is the most important one.

Robe life is the only life.
*Who cares if you get rear ended on the way to school drop-off in pajamas and rollers and have to get out of the car.

There is no better french fry than McDonald’s fries fresh from the deep fryer.
*except for McDonald’s fries back in the day that were fried in animal fat 

Friendships are everything, especially the friends you’ve had since childhood. 

Chicago is the greatest city in the world. 

Parenting doesn’t end at age 18 – kids need their mom or dad more and more each year.
*and your daughter might call you all hours of the night to talk her until she gets back home safely or just because she can’t sleep and wants to chat.

“I don’t care, do you care?” is the perfect response to brush something off and keep going.

If you ever need to walk away from a relationship/a job/a school, you can always go home and have somewhere to safely land while you figure it out. 

For your best hair day, keep your rollers in your hair the entire drive to your destination.
*Just don’t forget to take them out before walking into the restaurant and sitting down.  It happens. 

*** I never proofread and can hear her voice now talking about the insane amount of grammatical errors I always have in my posts.  sorry not sorry, mom 🙂