Mothers' advice lasts throughout a lifetime
This 'n That
By Debbie Jenkins Cook
Managing Editor

Mothers have a way of capturing the hearts of their children just as children capture the hearts of their mothers.

No matter hold old most of us become, we still have a certain amount of respect and admiration for our mothers if our memories of childhood are good ones. We might not like that she was strict, but more often than not, if we're honest, we have to admit she was probably right in most of her advice.

We start out depending on our mothers for our very livelihood - she feeds us, bathes us, changes our diapers and cares for us. We may have to stay with someone else if she's a working mother, but we always know the special touch and voice of our mom over any other woman.

As we grow, we test the waters of the world and the patience of our moms - first it's the "terrible twos" when we think the world exists solely to please us, and we take exception anytime it doesn't. We resent hearing "no no" or getting our hands smacked when we touch something that we've been told 100 times not to touch.

We feel big when we start school, but we also take comfort in knowing our moms are going to be there for us at the end of the day and will be quick to go to our defense if anything goes wrong. Moms can fix problems when no one else can.

Then we reach pre-teen age and start thinking we're older than we are, and that mom is pretty old-fashion in her views. Just because she didn't get to date until she was 16 is no reason we should have to wait that long, and we get tired of hearing the same old phrase, "I don't care if everyone else is doing it - if they were jumping off a cliff, would you want to do that too?"

The teen years get worse and mom seems even less wise, just not with what is "in." She doesn't like our music, will only let us hang pictures of The Monkees inside our closet door, doesn't want us wearing our skirts too short and warns us often about boys - "if a girl acts like a lady and stays in her place, a boy has to" and "always carry a dime in your shoe in case you have to make a call home for us to come and get you." (Yes, when I was a teen, pay phones just cost a dime.)

We think moms are kind of silly for giving us all that advice, but once we have teens of our own and they want more freedoms than we ever dreamed of having, and there's more dangers facing them than we ever imagined existed, we understand what mom meant. Our kids think we're as silly and old fashion as we thought our moms were when we were growing up - what goes around comes around.

The older we get, the more we realize that our mom was wiser about many things than we believed her to be, and if we're fortunate enough to still have her, we can still learn from her.

My son and daughter are both in their twenties now and at times, they let me know either verbally or in their actions that they have listened to some of the wisdom I've preached at them over the years, but they're still young enough to think I'm still hopelessly living in the past in other areas of my life.

Nevertheless, I believe old-fashion has served me just fine over the years and has probably kept me out of a lot of trouble I might have otherwise found myself. It doesn't kill us to wait a bit on things we haven't experienced or owned. Simple living and remembering the wise advice of our moms - what more do we need?

My mom turned 82 on May 3, and she still doesn't hesitate to lecture me if she thinks I need it, but I don't resent her advice any longer. Even if I don't take it, I know, in her mind, she's only looking out for my well being, and I love her for that.

So, Happy Mother's Day mom and please know, I still carry spare change with me in case I need to make a phone call from a pay phone. I always wear clean underwear, but not just because you warned "I might be in an accident," but because I prefer it clean. If I do something I think you might not like, I just don't tell you about it, though you quite often, in that keen psychic way moms always seem to know, suspect something, get it out of me, and once more, I'm the child hearing a lecture from my mom. But, I wouldn't have it any other way. I love you too.

Home decor gift ideas to give for Mother's Day
Decor at Your Door
by CJ Ratliff
Herald Staff Writer

With Mother's Day over a few days away, it is time to decided on a gift to show one's appreciation for mothers.

While most mothers enjoy receiving the usual flowers, cards and/or candies, this year consider giving a gift to either improve a homes decor look or compliment it.
A new sheet set will not only look fantastic, but will also be comfortable. When shopping for sheets remember these tips:

oFeel. Look for all-natural fibers, such as 100 percent cotton. Natural-fiber sheets allow the body to breathe and, with care, will last a long time, making them worth the investment. Cotton sheeting feels smooth and soft to the touch, and Egyptian and Pima cottons, which have a longer fiber, have a slightly more luxurious feel.

o Construction. The way a sheet is woven is another important factor to consider. Cotton percale has a clean, crisp finish, while cotton sateen has a more fluid, satiny texture. Flannel has a soft nap to it that many people like for winter use.

o Thread count. Fabric content and construction are as important as thread count (which means the number of threads in a square inch of fabric). A very high thread count may be over constructed (a high thread count marked "two-ply" may be a sign) and fall apart with wash and wear. Remember to always find what feels best and at an affordable price.

Picture frames are also a great gift for mothers. If your mother is anything like mine, she loves to display family photos everywhere around the house. Try looking for one or two great frames and add photos. It may be a great idea to go through older photos and choose a couple which have a special meaning to both you and your mother. If old photos are not available, simply take new ones.

If you do decided to give flowers, buy your own vase instead of using one provided by the florist. Most home retail stores carry a large variety of vases in different shapes and sizes. If a crystal vase is out of your budget, there are several nice glass vases available with fantastic etching. Choose a vase that will fit your mother's existing decor.
Remember, Mother's Day is a day of celebrating the love between a mother and a child. Put some thought into the gift you give, and any mother is sure to love it. Happy Mother's Day!

~ God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers. - Jewish Proverb ~

Men: Mother's Day is here, are you prepared?
On My Mind
By Rachel Dean
Herald Columnist

Mother's Day is Sunday. This year, if there are mothers in your life, celebrate them.

I'd say that most mothers, at any age, would prefer to spend Mother's Day with as many family members as they could. Laughter, sunshine, lemonade and barbecue - the whole works.

But, if a backyard family reunion is not a possibility - at least make sure that your mother or the mother of your children knows that you appreciate them.

While Mother's Day isn't the only day a mother should be appreciated and pampered, it is her official holiday and the one day a year a mother's responsibilities should be temporarily relieved.

A mother should not have to cook on her day, nor should she have to do laundry, dishes, sweeping, house cleaning or any chores or errands (no matter how much you think she really enjoys it, I'm sure she would appreciate a break).

So, with that being said, it would be super nice if all of those duties were not only postponed, but rather, done for them but not by them.

I have decided that the best Mother's day of all would be a luxurious morning at the spa, followed by a sunny afternoon and starlit evening on the lake with grilled steaks followed by fresh strawberry shortcake.

If that Mother's Day fantasy isn't a possibility this year, all other attempts should be made to ensure that all mothers' have at the very least an enjoyable day during which they feel appreciated.

Men: You have to realize that women are primarily responsible for the organization of any family event by default. In order to pull of a good day for your wife or mother, you must organize it yourself. You can't wait for someone else do it, because it's women's day off, and they should not have to organize their own day. Surprise them this year with something special to let them know you care.

Okay, so if a family gathering isn't possible (or wouldn't be as stress free as it should be), here are some ideas that would please women, at least the ones I know. The key is to cater the gift to the individual woman, within your budget restrictions.

o Give them a few uninterrupted hours of quiet reflection to do whatever they want.

o Call a masseuse and schedule a 60-minute full body massage for your lucky lady. You will never be forgotten.

o Take them to a salon for a pedicure. Women love to have pretty feet and a pedicure is a way to get pampered in a special way. Give them pretty, rejuvenated feet. It's a great gift for women who are on their feet a lot.

o Buy various flowers from a greenhouse (not cut flowers) and literally plant the flowers in your mother's flower bed either with her or as a nice surprise. Hanging baskets are nice too, but if a flower bed needs flowers, the extra step will be that much more appreciated.

o If they like to go out to eat, take them somewhere nice.
Personally, I am dissatisfied often when I go out to eat, but there are some places that I always enjoy. You should already know where her favorite place to eat. If not - you are in big trouble.

o Clean the house for your wife or mother or hire a trustworthy housekeeper to do it for her. There are house cleaning services that will clean a house one time at a reasonable fee.

o Do the laundry. Take it to a laundry place here in town and pay them to do it. It isn't expensive and they'll fold it and tell you when it will be ready to pick up. At least you know that you won't ruin it that way.

o Have a family portrait made. Pictures are treasured by women and gathering family together in their pretty clothes would bring tears to the eyes of many women. Portraits come in all sorts of packages and prices, so there's something for everyone. Personally, I like outdoor photography. So if you don't like going into the studio, have a picnic and take lots of pictures while you are there.

o If your mother, like mine, lives a good distance away, go visit.
While you are there, do some grilling, set out some potato salad and fresh fruit and use all disposable cookware and cutlery so there's no dishes to wash.

o If you can't visit your mother for some reason, and you have no money, write her a letter telling her how much she means to you.