Things my mother told me to do… that I still do:

1. Always close a book when you’ve finished reading and put a bookmark in it. If you leave your book face down and sprawled open, you’ll damage the spine.
2. Don’t put the milk carton, ketchup bottle, mayonnaise jar, etc. on the dining room table. Transfer the contents to a bowl and put the bowl on the table.
3. If somebody is still sitting at the table and eating, sit with them till they’ve finished.
4. Don’t scratch your private places in public.
5. Don’t pick the flowers in the neighbor’s garden without asking permission.
6. Separate the whites and the colors when you do your laundry.
7. Give your seat on the bus to an older person.

Things my mother told me to do… that I now ignore:

1. Don’t lick your plate.
2. A nice girl never lets a boy know how much she likes him.
3. Nice girls don’t show their emotions.
4. Don’t just sniff; blow your nose.
5. Don’t drink right out of the milk/orange juice carton.
6. You know, the birds aren’t really talking to you.

What advice did your mother give you? And how are you doing with following it?