Chamber Chatter - Mother's Day

“All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That’s his.” ~ Oscar Wilde. As all mothers and children of mothers look forward to Mother’s Day on Sunday, we find some interesting trivia about this national holiday at NRF.com.

According to an April 24, 2019 press release from the National Retail Federation, “Mother’s Day spending is expected to total a record $25 billion this year, up from $23.1 billion in 2018. Mother’s Day spending has been growing consistently over the past several years, and this year’s spending is expected to be the highest in the 16-year history of our survey,

NFR President and CEO Matthew Shay said.”

The article goes on to say, “While the number of people celebrating Mother’s Day is in line with last year’s 86 percent, those celebrating are expected to spend more at an average $196 compared with $180 in 2018. Consumers ages 35-44 are likely to spend the most at an average $248, up from $224, and men are likely to spend more than women at $237

compared with $158.”

The NFR also tells us “newer models of gift-giving including special outings and gift cards are growing, in addition to more traditional gifts including flowers, greeting cards, and jewelry. Spending on Mother’s Day jewelry has increased from $2.3 billion in 2009 to over $5 billion today. Spending on flowers, for example, has grown by a third over the last

10 years.”

We all look forward to honoring our Mothers, or in many cases, memories of our dear Mothers, this Sunday. Mainly, we tend to focus on thoughts of wonderful minutes, hours, and days spent in our Mother’s company. However — a trip over to mothersdaycentral.com, and its list of “Motherisms,” brings back another kind of memory, and puts smiles on the faces of those of us who are “all grown up.” Do any from this list of “Top 10 All-Time Motherisms” ring any bells with you? “If everyone else jumped off a cliff, would you do it too? It’s all fun and games until someone pokes an eye out. You’d forget your head if it wasn’t screwed on. Elbows off the table.”

“Don’t eat with your mouth full. Clean up your room, it looks like a tornado hit. Do you think I was born yesterday? Is that too much to ask? Why? Because I said so, that’s why! Money doesn’t grow on trees!” Or, how about these wise nuggets you heard come out of her mouth? On “New Clothes and Hand-Me-Downs: You’ll grow into them. They’ll shrink. Just roll up the sleeves a bit. Some thick socks will make those shoes fit.” And when it came to discipline, did you ever hear “Look at me when I’m talking to you! Don’t use that tone with me. Don’t make me come in there. I’m coming in there right now! Don’t make me come in there again! Who do you think you are? Stop fighting or I’ll turn this car around.”

Or what about the classic line, “Just wait until your father gets home.” Of course, some of these may have hit the nail on the head when you reached the teen years. “I wasn’t born yesterday, you know. You think you’re so clever. I bet you think you’re so smart. Am I asking so much? Are you proud of yourself? Do I look like an ATM? And who do you think is going to pay for that?”

“While you’re living here, you’ll dance to my music. Act your age, you’re not two years old anymore. You’ll be an adult forever, what’s your hurry. I’ve been where you’re trying to go. You call that a broken heart? You’ve got a lot of living to do.” Or the ever-popular zinger, “I hope someday you have children just like you.”

Then one day when she starts looking around the soon-to-be empty nest, “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be alright. Text me. Call me every day. I miss you.” One final, and so very true “Motherism:” “When you get to be my age, you’ll understand.” To those of you who have heard any of the above come out of your own mouths, Happy Mother’s Day!