58 things Mum taught me....

It's my Mother's birthday today, and was Mother's Day last Sunday, so I thought I would write about the woman who I cannot imagine my life without and still find myself suprised to be as lucky to have such an understanding, witty, brave and loving one as my mother. Whilst I used to be embarrassed about her mum jeans, lawn-mowing sneakers and wrapping my sandwiches in baking paper instead of glad-wrap (all of the above are so hipster now)
I smile at the thought of her, tell my friends it's a priviledge to meet her, and when I realise I am becoming like her; couldn't be prouder (and still roll my eyes a bit)

She is celebrating her birthday by finishing the Camino Ingles- a treck over 100km through Northern Spain that English pilgrims made to Santiago. I'm lucky my heart is going to make a massive love explosion because I probably can't talk to her on this day and hopefully she will feel it in Spain....

Some of the things in this list are moral, some practical, and some comical....I have taken creative lisence with a few too.

1. Hugs and smiles are infinite
2. Left handers are as equally creative and good at throwing than anyone else
3. Listening to the birds and nature sounds is as good as a holiday
4. The water you boil silverbeet in is the strongest, healthiest green tea ever
5. Nothing is really lost until your mum can't find it
6. Always acknowledge a berevement as soon as you see the person, no matter how well you know them, if you have already txt them or called them. Eye contact and hugs are everything
7. Call your friends' parents and your teachers Mr.... and Mrs..... until they invite you to use their first name
8. Bonita banana boxes are the most versatile thing found at the supermarket
9. True Love Waits.
10. When using an electric mixer, put the bowl in the sink and you will never have accidents
11. Cutting your toenails infront of your grandmother is rude
12. Hand written cards and notes are precious (she used to sneak notes into my lunchbox or jacket pocket)
13. Calligraphy is cool
14. Don't walk around with your bra straps showing - "you want to leave something to the imagination"
15. Use vaseline to enhance your eyelashes  and brows rather than mascara
16. Shake your laundry as you get it out of the machine to stop crinkles and socks falling on the ground
17. Sing
18. Soap operas contain mindless drivel
19. Tell your closest people your news before they see it on Facebook
20. Pain either comes from disicipline or regret
21. Laugh your head off
22. Don't lie. Even if it's about a suprise birthday party.
23. Clear an "escape path" between your bed and the door, no matter how messy your room is
24. She taught me the power of the comma and apostrophe
25. Keep your keys and phone in the same place every time
26. Snuggles with a book are more important than dinners that take hours to prepare
27. Remember who you are
28. How to nurture a sick lamb, goat and kitten
29. Don't wait till it's broken to fix it
30. When one door closes another opens, though it can be hard to find the door
31. Write lists
32. A good phone manner speaks volumes
33. A multitude of tasks can be achieved whilst waiting for the kettle to boil
34. Even if you are only Duckling #2 in the School Play, be the best Duckling you can be
35. Don't be "that drunk girl"
36. Save and spend your money on memories and experiences
37. Respect and don't pigeonhole your siblings and family members
38. The best gift you can give a person is time
39. Even if you don't get invited to the party, you will always be invited into heaven
40. Make the most of your moisturiser by cutting the bottle in half and getting it out of the corners
41. Eat your greens
42. What's right it right, even if no one is doing it; what's wrong is wrong, even if everyone is doing it
43. When you don't know the words; make them up
44. Crushed up panadol with manuka honey is a cold buster
45. Texting in the presense of another person without a "sorry, I just need to reply to this..." is a NO-NO
46. Appreciate ALL Dad does that shows he loves you, not just buying you Ginger Kisses
47. Holding a grudge is a weight on you not the other person- FORGIVE
48. Run errands by actually running
49. Use a doily when you have guests
50. Water down your juice, it's sweet enough
51. The formula to successfully managing issues: "I feel.....because.....and I would like..."
52. The indicator bulb on your car isn't going to go out, so use it
53. Second-hand stuff can be the best stuff
54. Marriage and relationships are work- you reap what you sow
55. A list of Pros and Cons can be applied to almost every decision
56. How to break an apple in half with my hands
57. You can make amazing costumes with imagination and bedsheets
58. Love unconditionally with a capacity beyond what you imagine possible.

She is superwoman, she is a surviour, she's spontanious, smart, sporty, spiritual and savvy.
And she made me. (obvs Dad helped)
So I wish her the best birthday through this blog and love explosion, and hope you keep being the wonderful woman you are, who I would travel the world for, to have a picnic in the car.

Jj xx