Pearls of wisdom passed down

The average mother will pass on 41 ‘pearls of wisdom’ to her children, it was revealed yesterday.

The findings emerged in a new study of 2,000 people, and shows kids always remember the advice their mums pass down.

Most commonly heard tips include “Always try your best” and “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all”.

Mums are also likely to encourage their children to do well in life, by advising them to “get an education – no-one can take that away from you” and “you only get out of life what you put into it”.

And most importantly, mums want their kids to look on the bright side – always telling them to “smile” and claiming “life’s too short to be unhappy”.

In fact, mum’s advice is so precious seven in 10 adults regularly repeat her pearls of wisdom to their own children and 48 per cent of respondents continue to think their mums offer the best advice despite being all grown up.

Tim Fairs, Marketing Director for Clintons, which conducted the study to help the nation celebrate its mums, said: “Even as adults we continue to go back to mum for her wisdom and advice on daily scenarios, because as she says herself ‘Mum knows best’.

“And it’s these little nuggets of information which we hold dear, and which get passed down from generation to generation.

“These pieces of advice might be small, but the very fact they stay with us for years on end prove they hold great weight.”

The survey shows mums regularly display prudence when it comes to food – with some of her more memorable tips including “never take sweets from strangers”, “never swim on a full stomach”, “always eat breakfast” and “don’t eat cheese before bedtime”.

Good manners cost nothing according to the nation’s mums, who regularly tell their young to “eat with your mouth closed”, “never stare at people” and to “mind your p’s and q’s”.

Other words of wisdom mums give to encourage good etiquette include “treat people with respect”, “treat others how you wish to be treated yourself” and “manners maketh the man”.

Mums also try to be encouraging towards their offspring, saying things like “there’s no such word as ‘can’t’”, “practice makes perfect” and “look up things you don’t know the answer to”.

According to mums, common sense goes a long way and many try to get their children to prepare for the unexpected – by “keeping a blanket in the car boot”, “always carry an umbrella” and “never let your petrol tank go lower than a quarter full”.

Tim Fairs continues: “In an age where we’re bombarded with rules, guidance and expert advice, it can often be the little things that our mums say that prove to be the most memorable and help guide us through life.”

Two thirds of people often catch themselves mid-sentence and think “I sound like my mum” and 43 per cent often think they are turning into their mums.

But more than three quarters of those people who have their own children hope these ‘pearls of wisdom’ continue to be remembered and pass on to future generations.

MUM’S TOP 50 ‘PEARLS OF WISDOM’

1. Always try your best
2. If you can’t say something nice don’t say anything at all
3. Get an education – no-one can take that away from you
4. Eat with your mouth closed
5. If you don’t ask you don’t get
6. Never spend money you don’t have
7. Never take sweets from strangers
8. Smile
9. Never swim on a full stomach
10. Treat people with respect
11. Always wear clean underwear
12. You never get something for nothing
13. I want never gets
14. Put money aside for a rainy day
15. Treat others how you wish to be treated yourself
16. There’s no such word as ‘can’t’
17. Practise makes perfect
18. Mind your p’s and q’s
19. Never stare at people it’s rude
20. Watching too much TV will make your eyes go square
21. Mum knows best
22. Look after your pennies and the pennies will look after you
23. Be true to yourself
24. Always eat your breakfast
25. You only get out of life what you put into it
26. Never drink on an empty stomach
27. Courtesy and compassion cost nothing
28. Never leave the house with wet hair
29. Look up things you don’t know the answer to
30. Never go to bed on an argument
31. Receive compliments gracefully
32. Life’s too short to be unhappy
33. Don’t eat cheese before bedtime
34. Always hold the door open
35. Never give up
36. Manners maketh the man
37. The grass is never greener
38. Give compliments easily
39. Never offer lifts to strangers
40. Always have two months’ rent / mortgage saved
41. Men are very different creatures to women
42. Don’t eat in the street
43. Always moisturise before bedtime
44. Always use your ears
45. Always keep a blanket in the car boot
46. Your friends are forever but men come and go
47. Never let your petrol tank go lower than a quarter full
48. The couple that plays together stays together
49. Set your watch two minutes fast
50. Always carry an umbrella with you