Things I Taught My Daughters

In celebration of Mother’s Day, the Coker family took us out to eat. As we waited for our food, Tepie related some of the things she had learned from me. My oft repeated phrases (nags) are worth a laugh and a memory yet today. The words were expectations of their own behaviors and attitudes toward others.

Be a Lady and Sit Like a Lady were almost daily mantras. Say What Will Be a Blessing or Don’t Speak at All was a strong reminder for them to show God’s love and grace. It’s a phrase I used on myself quite often and even do to this day.

I wanted them to be gentle but tough. My demand – Don’t Scream Unless You Are Seriously in Trouble was non-negotiable. If It’s Not Broken and There is No Blood Gushing, Stop Your Whining! toughened them a little and saved my sanity a lot! As they grew and scrapes and bruises were replaced by heartaches and disappointments, that phrase was replaced by  Suck It Up, Life Isn’t Fair, but God Is!, and Put On Your Big Girl Panties.

Many of life’s problems were countered by the question, Have You Sat on the Toilet Today?

Thankfully, my girls have done the knee jerk reaction to many of the lessons I taught them by example. I am proud of them for following their own path. They are excellent cooks because they actually follow a recipe! They have rejected my When It’s Brown It’s Cookin’, When It’s Black It’s Done philosophy. They aren’t clutterers as I have been. They are much more weight and health conscious than I. They learned early to be wise money managers. The list of their wonderful attributes goes on and on!

One of the most important habits we established early was reading the Bible. Despite my misquoting of Scripture – As You Sew, So Shall You Rip, they did learn the Word. My scolding about Only God Is Holy always brought out the eye roll responses. But the nags to read their Bibles before they went to sleep must have done some good as all are faithful to the Word, to God, and godly living.

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.    3 John 1:4

It’s fun to see things passed down through the generations. When my girls tell me with exasperation that they have thrown out some of my classic lines to their own children, I have to laugh. When I see them teaching their children the ways of the Lord, I rejoice.

Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.    Deuteronomy 4:9

Be blessed!

KB