My Mother Always Said ...

... "Life's not fair."

Ann Parker here, every other Thursday bloggin' at the LadyKillers, with a confession: many of my favorite quotes are those old tried, true, timeless (and yes, sometimes trite) phrases that fall trippingly from the tongues of mothers (and fathers) everywhere.

One of my mom's most repeated quotes is the one at the top of this post.

There were four kids in the family, so lots of whining and grumbling about the unfairness of this, that, and the other. Mom probably got tired of pointing out the generally random nature of life, but it did eventually sink in. And, over the decades, I've discovered that, gosh darn it, she was right. Life isn't fair. But that doesn't mean life is bad, or hopeless, or not worth living... In fact, just the opposite. It's comforting to know that when "bad things happen to good people" (or good things keep happening to bad people), it isn't because good and bad is being carefully partitioned via some crazy algorithm I don't understand and have to chase after, catch, and examine until I "get it." It's just... life. And that is very freeing, to me.

So, thanks, Mom!

Here are a few more "Mom-isms" that pop to mind:

• "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all."
• "The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence."
• "If you don't stop making that face, it will freeze that way!"
• "This too shall pass."
• "Money doesn't grow on trees."
• "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing well."

As I write these, I could swear my grandmother (that is, my mother's mother) used to say them to us as well. Could it be? It certainly could.

It's interesting how some quotes stand the test of time and remain alive, passing from generation to generation, and others don't.

So, what about you? Did your parents (or grandparents) have favorite quotes or life lessons that they repeated to you and that you took to heart? If so, what were they?

Comments

[Staci]

Ha! I think my parents said all of these as well. I can't think of any more, other than "Stop crying or I'll give you a reason to cry," but I don't think that's necessarily a good life lesson. = )

[Doris McCraw]

The one I heard was, "It's okay to feel sorry for yourself, and you have five minutes, then get over it."

[Priscilla]

My mother's wisest saying was "Laughter is the best medicine". One of her more fun bits was to pay all your bills, set aside something for savings, and have fun with the rest...

[Maddy]

I won't add the ones that already here but an unusual one that my Dad used to say. He said it just after the lightbulb moment when we finally gave the correct response after numerous failed attempts....there you go--you're not as green as you're cabbage looking -- which means, you're brighter than you think.

[Ann]

Hi Staci! I've heard OF this saying, but I don't think I heard my mother say it... I haven't said it either, as far as I know. :-}

[Ann]

Hi Doris!
I love this one! I think I'll have to print it out and memorize it. :-) Thanks for chiming in!

[Ann]

Hi Priscilla!
I like your mother's philosophy on money. Very practical (but with some wiggle room for fun as well). And the laughter thing has been proved by clinical studies, I believe. So, just as we were taught: Mother is always right! ;-)

[Ann]

Hi Maddy! Ooooh, I like that! Very different, and a nice bit of encouragement. Yay for your dad! :-)

[Margaret Lucke]

I heard "Life's not fair" all the time too, only from my dad. His belief was that fairness is a good thing to strive for but a bad thing to expect. A notion that I've found helpful to keep in mind as I go through life.

[rita lakin]

We must have all had the same mother.
She said all those, too.

I'll add my mother's morning greeting -- Rise and shine...

Rita

[T. L. Cooper]

Whenever I felt intimidated by someone, my mom would always say "She puts her pants on one leg at a time just like the rest of us." (or, of course, "he" if it was a male who intimidated me.)