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Did your mother used to say……..

(141 Posts)
Astitchintime Mon 19-Jan-26 16:33:01

I was getting dressed this morning and when I was putting on my vest - well more of a camisole I guess - I got to thinking about my dear mum. I could hear her wise words……’tuck your vest in your knickers, it will keep your back warm’.

Does anyone recall any wise words from their own mum?

M0nica Mon 19-Jan-26 16:37:31

No, not from mine.

Hiraeth Mon 19-Jan-26 16:39:22

Don’t sit on the doorstep otherwise you’ll get piles !
I wonder if that’s true .

dustyangel Mon 19-Jan-26 16:54:23

Always moisturise your neck at the same time as your face and rub any left over cream into your elbows. I doubt if anyone ever notices my stunning elbows. smile

dustyangel Mon 19-Jan-26 16:56:23

I was quite small when I remember her saying this, not more than about six years old.

Sadgrandma Mon 19-Jan-26 17:06:03

The day before my wedding my Mum told me “if you don’t both reach an orgasm at the same time you won’t get pregnant”! She had three children, nine years between the first two and twelve years between the second and third!!

Fallingstar Mon 19-Jan-26 17:12:52

My old mum would always say the same thing whenever I went out for the night as a teenager ‘always keep your hand on your ha’penny’ which never failed to embarrass me in front of my friends when they came to call for me.

twiglet77 Mon 19-Jan-26 17:15:17

Ne’r cast a clout ‘til May be out.
You’re having Vick on your chest.
Turn your vest and socks inside out, the clean ones aren’t dry.

She used to swap top and bottom sheets around to get an extra week before washing with the gas copper and mangle.

Cossy Mon 19-Jan-26 17:19:36

Many many things:

Don’t pull faces, the wind will change and you’ll stay like that

Wear clean knickers, in case you get run over!

Wear a vest or you’ll catch a chill
Put your coat on or you’ll catch a cold

Close your mouth or flies will get in

Wash behind your ears, do you don’t grow potatoes (really haha)

Eat your carrots so you’ll see in the dark.
Eat up your crusts so your hair will curl

Don’t eat walking down the street, it’s common.

And my two particular favourites,

Don’t sit on radiators you’ll get piles
Don’t put cold feet up at the fire, you’ll get chilblains, I did both, I got neither!

I did wear clean knickers every day and I did get run over!

Mollygo Mon 19-Jan-26 17:34:35

My Mum must have known yours Cossy
All those, especially Always wear clean underwear in case you get run over. I did and I was and they cut them off!

Also, my Gran’s favourite If you fall off that wall and break your leg, don't come running to me for sympathy.

Cossy Mon 19-Jan-26 18:05:58

Mollygo

My Mum must have known yours Cossy
All those, especially Always wear clean underwear in case you get run over. I did and I was and they cut them off!

Also, my Gran’s favourite ^If you fall off that wall and break your leg, don't come running to me for sympathy.^

😂😂😂😂 Secret sisters eh!!

Cressy Mon 19-Jan-26 18:10:28

You’ll get square eyes if you sit too close to the television

Grannynannywanny Mon 19-Jan-26 18:16:04

My mum often said eat your carrots , they’re good for your eyesight. When questioned on that theory she said “well have you ever seen a rabbit wearing glasses 🤓

teabagwoman Mon 19-Jan-26 18:19:47

Don’t mess around with boys at bus stops. I was 11 and baffled.

Retroladytyping Mon 19-Jan-26 18:23:36

Mine used to say to tuck your vest into your knickers to protect your kidneys.

1summer Mon 19-Jan-26 18:27:50

My Dad not my Mum - you are not going out wearing that. 😂

Labradora Mon 19-Jan-26 18:30:29

From mine also;
Wear clean underwear in case you get runover
Wash your ears or you'll grow potatoes and cauliflowers (cfCossy)
Waste not; want not.
She chivvied me to make an effort with my appearance when I went out because " you never know who you might meet".
My favourite mother's saying was her ultimate put down
that someone or something was
"neither use nor ornament".

REKA Mon 19-Jan-26 18:34:07

Ah yes, neither use not ornament. My grandma would often say that!

She also told me I'd melt my bone marrow if I sat with my back against the radiator.

Grannybags Mon 19-Jan-26 18:37:48

If you go out in that you’ll catch something you can’t caste in a hurry! ( Bare midriff and tiny skirt)

Oldnproud Mon 19-Jan-26 18:52:19

On going indoors an a cold winter's day (even if 'indoors' was a cold, unheated building), my mum used to tell me to take my coat off, otherwise I wouldn't feel the benefit when I went outside again.

cornergran Mon 19-Jan-26 18:52:35

The two I remember most are

Neither use nor ornament, a regular negative about anyone she didn’t like or who was judged to be lazy.

If the wind changes you’ll stay like that - something I’ve also said to our children and now grandchildren. Oh dear. 😂.

sodapop Mon 19-Jan-26 19:36:26

Neither use nor ornament was frequently used in our house
Don't bring trouble to this house - no explanation of what that trouble could be
Keep an eye on the coalman we don't want a lot of slack
Don't sit there like patience on a monument.

valdavi Mon 19-Jan-26 19:46:09

'Get your head out of that book!'
Always wear clean pants - you might get run over'
' No such word as can't'
'Dry between each toe- your cousin didn't & he got athlete's foot'
Don't sit too close to the TV you'll ruin your eyes'
' Eat up your greens or your won't get pudding'
'Always get up from the table before you feel full'
'It's easier to put it on than take it off (weight)'

CariadAgain Mon 19-Jan-26 19:54:54

Yep;
- "It's easier to put it on than take it off" (weight)

and

"Don't eat in the street - it's common".

"You're clumsy" (thanks a lot mother - and I wasn't clumsy either in actual fact). I just wasn't going to turn out with the 1970's size 8 figure she had - but I was going to turn out 1970's size 14 (and 36-26-36 is a good figure too!). If she didn't want the risk her children would be a bit bigger build than her then she shouldnt have picked out a man from across the dancefloor that she'd taken one look at and decided he was going to be her husband - but he wasn't skinny build.

Visgir1 Mon 19-Jan-26 19:59:11

"Actions speak louder than words"