I commented on Ellinghouse today and it got me thinking about all the wisdom my mother demonstrated while raising three girls. Most of it I am much more appreciative of now than I was then. So with no further ado, here are thirteen parenting techniques and life lessons I learned from my mother. (And yes I know technically it’s not Thursday but I was distracted today.)

1. Boredom isn’t an option. We learned to entertain ourselves. My mother’s response to cries of “I’m bored!” was to turn with a glint in her eye, cleaning supplies in her hand and say “Oh I can cure that” or something equally as frightening.

2. Sisterly fights were solved by “hug outs”. She would make us stand in the middle of the room and hug until we had the giggles.

3. She didn’t let us have everything we wanted. Want to do four or five extra curricular activities? Too bad. She taught us to prioritize.

4. Sometimes though, we got EXACTLY what we thought we wanted. Ex: We complained that we weren’t allowed sweets often enough. She gave us a week to eat nothing but sweets. She would buy whatever we asked for – doughnuts, cake, ice cream, candy. The catch: we couldn’t have anything else. She then proceeded to cook all our favorite meals. We caved within two days. I’m surprised we lasted that long.

5. A sense of humor and adventure can turn the most mundane moments/trips into the most memorable.

6. Done correctly, “the evil eye” can bring even the most unruly of children under control without speaking a word. She can glare at strange children in restaurants and they’ll sit down and shut up. It’s an amazing feat to behold.

7. A cup of homemade hot chocolate can soothe most hurts and stress.

8. Books trump television. Always.

9. Family is important but not limited to those who share our genetics.

10. Always take the opportunity to play in the rain.

11. Homemade chocolate chip cookies are great for making friends.

12. Storms should be respected but not feared.

13. Never give up on a loved one. Ever. But don’t compromise yourself either.