Thank goodness for our mothers. These multi-tasking marvels have found creative ways to juggle it all, to dole out love, and to pass their wisdom on to their children. Before we know it, we’re using their tricks and tips in our own lives and then suddenly we remember–our mamas taught us this.
So why not learn from other great mothers across the South? Here are some hacks for happiness, shared by sons and daughters who incorporate Mom’s lessons into their day-to-day lives. And bonus: they’re all free!
Related: 127 Mother’s Day Messages And Quotes For A ‘Happy Mother’s Day’
On Morning Coffee
On chilly mornings (whether from the weather or the AC), a hot cup of coffee is a necessity. I always stumble to the coffee maker immediately, then I use a trick my mom, Grace Becker, from Lake Placid, Florida, taught me ages ago. While my coffee brews, I fill my mug with hot water from the faucet. By the time my coffee is ready, my mug is heated, and my cup of Joe stays warmer longer.
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
On Cooking Pasta
Jared Datzman thinks of his mom, Sheila Datzman, from Monterey, Tennessee, every time he boils something. “I particularly love her hacks for cooking pasta. First, substitute stock for water, which adds so much flavor to otherwise bland pasta. And second, to keep water from boiling over, lay a wooden spoon across the top of the pot. I have no idea why this works, but it’s like magic. No more crusty spills!”
On Removing Stains
When she was growing up, Kalene Griffith and her siblings weren’t allowed soda…but orange Gatorade somehow passed the Mom Test. “It was a sweet victory we didn’t take lightly,” she says, “until we spilled it on Mom’s white carpet and panic set in. Then we remembered mom’s ‘vinegar thing,’ a magical trick that fixes everything.” Mom Jeanie Munson from Bentonville, Arkansas, taught them to mix equal parts white vinegar and water and apply gently – and here’s the kicker – with a white towel only. “That simple solution has become our holy grail for cleaning everything in the house.”
Related: Why You Should Plan A Trip With Your Mother Every Year
On Southern Hospitality
In the South, every event from births to graduations to funerals is a reason to deliver a casserole or cake. Patti Fudge’s mom Sandra Mathies of Naples, Florida, taught her the key to true Southern hospitality. “If a friend or neighbor brings you food in a Tupperware container, you never return it empty. Just last week I hosted a potluck dinner for my neighbors. One left her dish behind, and two days later, heeding Mom’s advice, I returned it filled with–you guessed it, given my name–fudge!”
On Making Iced Tea
Mason Warren of Shelby, Kentucky, knows he’s about to say something controversial. “Forget everything you’ve learned about making a pitcher of tea and follow these steps: Boil a pan of water, add six standard-size Lipton black tea bags, turn the heat to low, and let simmer for at least 30 minutes. Add exactly 1 cup of sugar to a (preferably ceramic and passed-down-through-the-generations) pitcher. Holding back the tea bags in the pan, pour tea into the pitcher and stir to dissolve sugar, then run lukewarm water over reserved tea bags to fill the pan two to three more times, and add to the pitcher until full.”
On Hair
When Bonnie Barnett was growing up in Wellford, South Carolina, her mom Jan taught her how to use a common household product to condition her hair. “Mom had me apply coconut oil to the ends of my hair to instantly repair split ends and damage,” Barnett says. Today, she applies the oil and clips up her hair prior to a workout, then showers. “Voila! My hair looks shiny and feels super soft.” When she needs deeper conditioning, she leaves the oil on overnight, per Mom’s advice.
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
On Coleslaw
“One of the best memories I have of my mom,” says Lisa Gunter of Greer, South Carolina, “is her sharing her secret to her beloved coleslaw: chopped boiled eggs. I have converted coleslaw haters into lovers with this little trick. When a side dish is needed for a gathering, this coleslaw has become the most requested.” Thanks, Nancy Wactor, for this eggy gem.
Related: 12 Hilarious Things That Made Us Realize We’re Becoming Our Mothers
On Hosting
There’s nothing that says Welcome to our home! more than a beautifully set table, at least according to Joy Singleton, mom of Kim Raines of Atlanta, Georgia. As Raines says, “Having your table set when guests arrive assures them that food is on the horizon.” Raines says she always serves hors d’oeuvres first, and she makes twice as much food as she thinks she’ll need. “It’s always better to have too much than not enough, and I’m a sucker for leftovers.”
On Self-Care
Patty Martin, who turned self-care into a lifelong career as a dietitian, owes it all to her mother Betty Lou Voisin from Houma, Louisiana. “Well before self-care became a buzzword, my mom preached it. I can still hear her say, ‘Patty, you’re doing too much. You need to slow down, rest, and take care of yourself.’ At the time, I didn’t always listen but now I understand exactly what she meant. She taught me that while others can support and love you, it’s up to you to take care of yourself. That message has become a guiding principle in my life and in my work.”
So thanks to all the moms for sharing their tricks – they may seem small, but they are mighty.
Read the original article on Southern Living
