listening to mom's advice

Photo by NonnieJ

My 4-year-old daughter's new favorite phrase is "You're not the boss! Daddy's the boss!"

I don't know where she got that grave misconception, but my point in telling you this is that at least one thing in most mother/daughter relationships has been fairly constant through the ages: Daughters don't like to listen to their mothers.

Not even on Mother's Day. ("Honey, that milk is going to tip." "No, it's not." Spill.)

Sigh. I'm not saying that everything mom says is always right, but you'd think daughters would have learned something from all the guilt and regret of gazillions of generations before us.

Moms in The CafeMom Newcomer's Club are listing all the good mom advice they wished they'd heeded but didn't. Just imagine how different things would have been if you'd listened when she told you as a kid to ...

-- Quit smoking. You'll regret it when you're older. "Here I am at 25 years old wishing I had listened to her."

-- Stop making fun of disabled kids. "Both my own boys are special needs."

-- Spend more time with your grandmother, because you'll regret not doing so when she's gone. "She's been gone for years this month, and I miss her more than anything. I wish so much that I had made the time when I had the chance."

-- Don't get pregnant so young, finish high school. "Here I am three years later."

-- Don't marry him. "Oh well, maybe the third time's a charm."

-- Always say "I love you" before you leave for the day, even if you are mad. "The last thing I sad to my mom was "See you later, and she died later  that day. You never know when your time or a loved one's time is up."

-- Quit trying to grow up so fast and enjoy your childhood. "She said I'll wish I did when I was older, and I do. Being and adult sucks. I wish the only things we had to worry about was going to school and playing."

-- Don't cover the walls of your room with posters, drawings, paintings and concert tickets -- it's a huge fire hazard! "Ten days before Christmas, I burned down the house. Well, not all the way, but it was totally uninhabitable."

What's the one piece of advice from your mom that you wished you listened to?

Happy Mother's Day!