What do you think?
Rate this book
Like My Mother Always Said...: Wise Words, Witty Warnings, and Odd Advice We Never Forget
During an afternoon of coffee and conversation, a friend of Erin McHugh’s pointed out that she frequently invoked quotations and memories from her mother. Then Erin started noticing how many other people did the same. It also became clear how humorous, moving, and unusual these gems were―so she decided to do something about it. In Like My Mother Always Said , McHugh, author of the successful Abrams Image feel-good title One Good Deed , collects the wonderful and laugh-worthy words that our moms tell us in their attempts to be helpful and instructive. (Whether they succeed or not is another thing entirely!) Offered up in quips and short anecdotes, all the kinds of nurturing and nutty information we glean from our mothers is divided into chapters such as “Questionable Wisdom,” “Unconditional Love,” “Good Manners & Bad Behavior,” and “Wise Words.”
- GenresNonfictionHumor
144 pages, Hardcover
First published March 11, 2014
13 people are currently reading
515 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
January 11, 2018
3 stars
Funny little euphemisms that Mothers have said over times. There are a number of quotes from the mothers of famous people along with mothers of the general population. Some quotes are pretty standard and well known, others are unheard of.
The quotes run the gamut from "Love, sex and marriage" to "Personal Hygiene" to "Good manners and bad behavior". There is even a section on "Mom learned it all from grandma".
Just a humorous little book on the 'wise words, witty warnings and odd advice we never forget'.
Nice change of pace from novel readings.
Funny little euphemisms that Mothers have said over times. There are a number of quotes from the mothers of famous people along with mothers of the general population. Some quotes are pretty standard and well known, others are unheard of.
The quotes run the gamut from "Love, sex and marriage" to "Personal Hygiene" to "Good manners and bad behavior". There is even a section on "Mom learned it all from grandma".
Just a humorous little book on the 'wise words, witty warnings and odd advice we never forget'.
Nice change of pace from novel readings.
November 27, 2017
Not a terribly deep read, but I did get a chuckle out of it here and there. A good Christmas gift book for people who aren't great readers.
January 6, 2026
What an excellent little book filled with motherly advice from all walks of life! I really enjoyed the stories, quotes, wives tales and great advice - some made you think, some were sad and some I've heard from my own mother when I was growing up! This is a wonderful read & would even makes great gift!
May 30, 2019
Quick, fun read of quotes from some mothers. I liked that there are some simple sayings instead of having all witty, profound quotes as I think it’s more realistic and there’s more favor like that.
May 12, 2014
Also published here
As a daughter of the best mom on earth (Happy Mother's Day, Mom!), I can relate with most of the sayings in this book. This short and sweet book is filled with timeless advice and truth. Some of the sayings made me snicker quite loudly. Some made me scrunch my eyebrows questionably. Some reminded me how special and how encouraging and how loving mothers are.
This is a great book and an even greater gift for mothers everywhere!
As a daughter of the best mom on earth (Happy Mother's Day, Mom!), I can relate with most of the sayings in this book. This short and sweet book is filled with timeless advice and truth. Some of the sayings made me snicker quite loudly. Some made me scrunch my eyebrows questionably. Some reminded me how special and how encouraging and how loving mothers are.
This is a great book and an even greater gift for mothers everywhere!
April 8, 2014
This book is a compilation of quotes and anecdotes. It is a delightful read and I think guaranteed to bring smiles. I am sure any reader would find something that calls to mind a mother, grandmother, aunt, etc., and it brought to mind a couple of things I could have added that my mother always said. I enjoyed tripping on the occasional celebrity contribution.
This would make a great gift for a mother any day of the year but particularly on Mother's Day.
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
This would make a great gift for a mother any day of the year but particularly on Mother's Day.
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
June 1, 2016
417 - 2016
April 6, 2020
A collections of quotations and sayings sometimes humorous other times smart.
The author collect them from her friends and the memories they had from their mothers.
Greek mum's best quotes ever :
Stay home
Wash your hands
Eat at home, don't eat junk food
Take a jacket with you, it is chilly outside
Save your money, don't spend them on guitar/car/vacations/cloths...
Your t-shirt/pair of jeans are in the closet, you have to check a little, they won't speak to you...
The author collect them from her friends and the memories they had from their mothers.
Greek mum's best quotes ever :
Stay home
Wash your hands
Eat at home, don't eat junk food
Take a jacket with you, it is chilly outside
Save your money, don't spend them on guitar/car/vacations/cloths...
Your t-shirt/pair of jeans are in the closet, you have to check a little, they won't speak to you...
July 15, 2021
Here I am. I forced myself to finished these books because I wanna share my parent's quotes.
Mama : Tak selamanya hidup kau akan susah. Terus sabar.
Ayah : Tiada istilah menyusahkan dalam kamus kami sebagai mama bapak kamu.
I know each of you also have a magical words from your parents. Those words are the ones who guide you be a better person.
'I may be responsible for all of your problems, but you are responsible for all the solutions'
#MalaysiaMembaca
Mama : Tak selamanya hidup kau akan susah. Terus sabar.
Ayah : Tiada istilah menyusahkan dalam kamus kami sebagai mama bapak kamu.
I know each of you also have a magical words from your parents. Those words are the ones who guide you be a better person.
'I may be responsible for all of your problems, but you are responsible for all the solutions'
#MalaysiaMembaca
March 21, 2017
Just so-so....not really writing, but a collection of "mom sayings." Some I am frankly surprised in this modern era were included as they seemed rather "folksy" about ways girls/boys should supposedly act to be "proper."
But some moments did make me smile or chuckle because they were such "mom" things to say.
But some moments did make me smile or chuckle because they were such "mom" things to say.
August 21, 2017
A cute little book.
October 26, 2017
Fun book!
April 3, 2018
So fun! My favorite was, "Don't be impressed by a man's car-- he may be living in it." Ha!
April 19, 2022
very cute book i picked up at a library book sale. the mom quotes are more simplistic, and specific to one's own mother., not really much to learn from. made for light fun reading.
February 12, 2023
I liked it, although I could almost hear my mom saying just about all of them!
March 9, 2023
Eh I think it's more for older generations who actually heard stuff like this from parents/grandparents and not off movies and internet imo
March 10, 2015
Fun book, made me think about the things my mom used to say and also made me realize all the things I say on a regular basis, such as:
We don't pull clothes!
No snatching.
You don't have to like it, you just have to eat it.
Life's not fair. (I got that one from my dad. Another from my dad is "Turn off the light!" and "SCRAM")
My mom always used to say, "I'm going to get the wooden spoon!" although she never did.
In addition to fun things that moms say, it also had quotes from famous people about their moms/being a mom. That was fun.
Some favorites:
"My mother said to me, 'if you are a soldier, you will become a general. If you are a monk, you will become the Pope.' Instead, I was a painter, and became Picasso." -Pablo Picasso
"Don't drink and drive, put your dish in the dishwasher, call your brother." -Noreen
"Let the bus driver's mother worry about the bus driver. She meant 'mind your own business.'" - Jennifer
"My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but I think she enjoyed it." -Mark Twain
"Whenever we would say 'everyone is doing it'--whatever 'it' was--my mother would respond, 'Be the engine and not the caboose.'" -Jane
"My mom has a way of cutting herself off when she's about to comment on something someone is doing that she doesn't approve of. Suddenly she'll stop and say, 'But I'm not on that committee.'" -Martha
"When I was five years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down 'happy.' They told me I didn't understand the assignment, and I told them they didn't understand life." -John Lennon
There was also a really funny one, I can't find it now, that was along the lines of: A mother and daughter were watching a movie with a really good-looking actor. The mother said, "that man is sure good-looking!" The daughter said, "But mom, you're married!" To which the mom replied, "It doesn't matter where you get your appetite, as long as you eat at home!" Ha ha haaaaa! I lost it!
We don't pull clothes!
No snatching.
You don't have to like it, you just have to eat it.
Life's not fair. (I got that one from my dad. Another from my dad is "Turn off the light!" and "SCRAM")
My mom always used to say, "I'm going to get the wooden spoon!" although she never did.
In addition to fun things that moms say, it also had quotes from famous people about their moms/being a mom. That was fun.
Some favorites:
"My mother said to me, 'if you are a soldier, you will become a general. If you are a monk, you will become the Pope.' Instead, I was a painter, and became Picasso." -Pablo Picasso
"Don't drink and drive, put your dish in the dishwasher, call your brother." -Noreen
"Let the bus driver's mother worry about the bus driver. She meant 'mind your own business.'" - Jennifer
"My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but I think she enjoyed it." -Mark Twain
"Whenever we would say 'everyone is doing it'--whatever 'it' was--my mother would respond, 'Be the engine and not the caboose.'" -Jane
"My mom has a way of cutting herself off when she's about to comment on something someone is doing that she doesn't approve of. Suddenly she'll stop and say, 'But I'm not on that committee.'" -Martha
"When I was five years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down 'happy.' They told me I didn't understand the assignment, and I told them they didn't understand life." -John Lennon
There was also a really funny one, I can't find it now, that was along the lines of: A mother and daughter were watching a movie with a really good-looking actor. The mother said, "that man is sure good-looking!" The daughter said, "But mom, you're married!" To which the mom replied, "It doesn't matter where you get your appetite, as long as you eat at home!" Ha ha haaaaa! I lost it!
July 3, 2014
I picked this up at the library and it opened to page 15, "This will become a jewel of your crown in heaven." My mom said that to me, and it brought tears to my eyes to see that message that felt like it was coming from her.
My paternal grandmother's advice is on page 101- I never knew anyone else said this! "It's a great life if you don't weaken."
Page 64 has a quote from Erica Jong's mom, that so fits my youngest daughter.
But I think the quote I liked best is from Mr Rogers on page 78.
Filled with the combined wisdom of many moms, I would now love to see a book on what the FATHERS always said!
My paternal grandmother's advice is on page 101- I never knew anyone else said this! "It's a great life if you don't weaken."
Page 64 has a quote from Erica Jong's mom, that so fits my youngest daughter.
But I think the quote I liked best is from Mr Rogers on page 78.
Filled with the combined wisdom of many moms, I would now love to see a book on what the FATHERS always said!
February 19, 2016
"Having a toddler is like having a permentaly drunk houseguest."
This had to be one of the best one's my sister, mother and I found while all looking through this fun little book. When I found this in the library, I knew I had to bring it to my mother' house and share it with her and my older sister. They both being mothers, and me just relating as a daughter. Funny, touching, sincere, and right on, this is a fun little book to chuckle and agree with.
This had to be one of the best one's my sister, mother and I found while all looking through this fun little book. When I found this in the library, I knew I had to bring it to my mother' house and share it with her and my older sister. They both being mothers, and me just relating as a daughter. Funny, touching, sincere, and right on, this is a fun little book to chuckle and agree with.
April 4, 2014
This is a fun little book. It contains things I have heard my own mother day, and things I have "caught" myself saying from time to time. My kids enjoyed some of the more obscure ones, as well! In general, this was a happy little read.
June 2, 2014
Many of these sayings were/are very familiar to me. I enjoyed reading the motherly quotes and it's neat that the cited speaker is referenced as mother of X, daughter of X, son of...
This was a nice, light side-read book for me.
This was a nice, light side-read book for me.
February 8, 2015
Received this as a stocking stuffer. Read it in the span of a morning and enjoyed a few of the tidbits. Most of the book is trite, well-trod territory, but the handful of gems made it worth a quick read. One book down, 24 to go. . .
June 1, 2014
A fun read and a trip down memory lane as my mom has said many of these sayings in this book.
Want to read
June 26, 2023Based on the funny stories of her mom, McHugh captures the wisdom and wit of motherly advice.
I won this through Goodreads Giveaways.
I won this through Goodreads Giveaways.
April 22, 2014
Cute little coffee table book of the crazy and wise things mothers say. It's snapped me out of a couple bad moods. How can you not laugh when you read, "Wear a sweater, I'm cold"?
November 3, 2014
Somewhat interesting...made me think of my mother a lot. She's been gone a number of years.
April 2, 2018
i laughed out loud at this. clever. ill reread when i have my own children and im sure ill find some new gems in it.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews