70 Things I Learned From My Mother

My mom turned 70 today. That's a big number for a very vibrant woman. Have you ever heard the saying, "age is just a number"? In my family, that saying is more of a goal. My parents are relatively free of the typical health problems found among the baby boomers, eat real food and live an active lifestyle. This summer my mother outworked all my volunteers, in 90-degree heat, planting our production rows in the pasture.

Age is More Than a Number

While age is just a number, there is another side of those 70 years that our culture needs to begin to appreciate. My mother has lived 70 years on the planet which has resulted in 70 years of experience and wisdom. For her birthday, I decided to sit down and write out all the things that she has taught me as a result of all she's learned in her 70 years. Today as a tribute I thought I'd share the list here on our page. Truthfully, this is edited to fit into just 70. I could have added so many more!

It's Your Turn

If I could add one thought as preamble to reading this list it is this- I'll bet you can make an equally impressive list when thinking about your parents or your grandparents. Our culture no longer reveres the wisdom of our elders and ancestors so we lose more and more of ourselves every day. As my kids read this list today I realized it was a much a gift to them as it was to my mother.

70 Things I’ve Learned From My Mother... in honor of her 70th birthday

1. Put yourself in someone else’s shoes before you judge them
2. Waste not, want not.
3. It’s better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
4. How to cook
5. How to sew
6. How to drive
7. On the subject of driving, be a defensive driver
8. Faith in God has many paths and you can choose your own.
9. Family comes first
10. How to type
11. Use it up, wear it out, make do or do without!
12. How to bake a cake
13. How to make my own bread
14. The importance of caring for animals well
15. How to plant a garden
16. How to make jelly
17. How to can vegetables
18. We are all responsible to make our own happiness
19. Never let your fears rule your life
20. Worry doesn’t take you anywhere, it simply robs you of today.
21. Education is important, but it is imperative that you are involved in many other parts of life to be a well-rounded individual.
22. Confront people when they are wrong, even when it is very uncomfortable for you to do so.
23. Riding bikes with your family can give you some of the best memories.
24. Your hands will wash!
25. The importance of independence
26. How to go after what I want in life even in the face of adversity.
27. How to dream big
28. Respect the earth, give back what you take with our natural resources not because it’s cool, but because it’s reality
29. If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again
30. You will get out of any given situation only what you put into it.
31. The value of hard work
32. The value of honesty and integrity
33. How to care for a sick child
34. The importance of being “Bullet Proof”
35. How to be a good listener
36. Common Sense is just as important as book learning.
37. How to care for someone when they have a cold
38. How to make maple sugar candy
39. How to make the best fudge
40. Basic home healthcare
41. How to balance a checkbook
42. Toothpicks are an important tool when baking
43. Reading can take you anywhere- it should be your first love
44. Failure is not your enemy
45. Respect your elders
46. Make new friends but keep the old. One is silver and the other is gold
47. Forgiveness
48. A love of cookbooks
49. 10-year-old frozen peas are not edible
50. When you have a job to do, don’t put it off. It will become a larger project tomorrow than it is today.
51. Makeup and clothes are just things, you don’t need them to make you who you are.
52. The ability to see that short-term decisions can have long-term consequences.
53. The importance of moderation
54. Say what you mean and mean what you say
55. Never do fad diets
56. If you drop it on the floor after hours ofwork in the kitchen, pick it up and serve it anyway. Tell NO ONE.
57. The importance of cooking a meal for your family with real food
58. That there is always a solution to the problem- never despair
59. The belief that I can do anything I put my mind to do
60. How to look for the good in all people
61. How to live happily on less
62. How to count my blessings
63. That it’s ok to ask questions
64. That I can be a strong woman without hating a man or feeling that the world is out to get me
65. Don’t borrow trouble
66. Marriage is hard work, it takes commitment, patience and the ability to forgive someone their growing pains
67. How to fight fair
68. How to be a good mother
69. Eat everything on your plate even if you don’t like it
70. A handmade gift is worth more than one from the store