School of Mom

In honor of Mother's Day, I thought I'd do a few more posts on the subject. My Mom, for example. She was ahead of her time in lots of ways, and much more mellow than I realized when I was young and living in her house.

Mom, thanks for teaching me some valuable lessons that I use today in my house:
Let the kids use the good china, silver and crystal. What's the fun of having that stuff if you don't use it?


Life's too short to use paper napkins


Anything can be a decorative object. I'll never forget the wall of baskets in the kitchen -- and that you actually used them.


If the kids paint the walls in the garage while you're out for the evening, don't freak out. It's only the garage.


Let the kids redecorate their own rooms. I spent many Saturday afternoons moving furniture around in my room, moving things from other rooms in the house into my room, and then evaluating the results. Good practice for my chosen profession.

Casual is cool. While my friends' Moms had very fancy living rooms and dining rooms, we never did. We used every room in our house.

Now that I have a house of my own, I am just like my Mom. Casual, pretty mellow, and willing to bust out the champagne flutes on a Saturday morning if that will make my kids smile.

Love you Mom.

Happy Mother's Day

I've noticed that many of the articles I read about what to do for your Mom on Mother's Day have to do with cleaning the house:
Pick up your toys
Clean your room
Make breakfast for Mom and then do the dishes

I think that's very nice, but for one day, let's all take the day off from worrying about the house. Here's some really useful advice about what to do for your Mom on Mother's Day (Andie, Jack and Katie, listen up):
Give your Mom a hug
Paint your Mom's toes
Turn the tables and tuck Mom in at bedtime: fluff her pillows, tuck in her blankets, bring her a cup of tea, and give her a kiss
Actually answer Mom's questions about who you're crushing on and and what's going on with your best friend instead of dodging them.
Text Mom more that you text your friends today
Laugh at all of Mom's jokes today

There you have it -- a free pass from keeping the house orderly today. Furber Kids, take it and run with it!