Black mothers are the glue of the black family. They take care of business and hold it together for the children. Whether she is doing it by herself or with her partner you can’t deny her strength and conviction. For some odd reason it seems like black mothers all have the same sayings. I have been out and overheard a black mother reprimanding her child and I smiled to myself a little bit. What she was saying to her child reminded me of what my mother, aunts and even grandmother would say to me growing up. I’m the last person to want to be cliche and group all black mothers together, but we all know if our mother never said one of these phrases, we know a black mother who has.
What did I tell you about __________!?!?
You can insert anything into this blank. Mothers tell you something ONE time. If you don’t get it the first time, be prepared to be held accountable the next time you mess up. This could range from “What did I tell you about jumping on the couch?” to “What did I tell you about playing in my makeup?”
Don’t make me have to come in there!
Let’s be honest, no one ever wanted to go to sleep as a kid. When you’re a kid it is like there is a whole other world that starts once you close your eyes and who wants to miss that? But no matter how you try to sneak back out of your room, your mother always caught you. It is like mothers have super sonic hearing. They can hear any crick of a door prying open. They can even hear your little feet hitting the floor. Once your mother warns you about coming out the room, you better run back under those covers. This phrase was also used when your mother overhears you fighting with your siblings in the other room. Mothers are always the ultimate referee.
The “Look”
Even as an adult I’m still scared of the “look” and its consequences. Everyone knows that when their mother turns and gives them the “look” it is time to straighten up, shut up and act right. This was a favorite to use in church. It is remarkable how much of an effect it has, but it works. It is her way of letting you know that she is not going to make a scene here and now; but if you don’t stop what you are doing, it will be a different story when you get home.
I will give you something to cry about!!!!
When the waterworks started it was always hard to stop them. It was like the tears could have run forever. With your eyes puffy and your nose running, your mother always knew she only had to say this one phrase to get the huffing and puffing to stop. If you are already crying and your mother is going to give you something to cry about, it can only get worse.
Don’t get grown with me!
The last thing you can do to a black mother is act like you are on her level. My grandmother still puts her foot down on my own mother when necessary. As a kid, you can’t wait until you get older so you can have more of a say and make your own decisions in the house. But if you ever get out of line, your mother is right there to bring you back down to earth.
Put that down!
As a kid you can’t touch anything! Looking back it was probably so you wouldn’t break it. But when you’re younger, you just want to explore. There was a figurine that my mother had on our living room table that I was determined to play with. But with her motherly GPS, she always knew when I was within feet of it and always yelled “Put that down” from the kitchen.
When we get in here, don’t touch anything.
On top of not being able to touch certain things in your house, you can’t even breathe on things outside of your house. No matter if you are in a store or at someone’s house, this saying applies everywhere. The last thing your mother wants is for you to touch something and break it and she has to pay for it. To avoid this before you even get inside she turns to you and quickly let’s you know, don’t touch anything!
Turn these lights off!!!
It seems like black mothers have an obsession with the light bill. The light could only be on in rooms that you occupy. Your mother would just appear out of nowhere and turn the light off. Don’t even think about leaving the light on in a room that you’re not in. Sometimes I forget to turn off the light when I leave a room, but my mother quickly reminds me where I am and to turn the light off!
We know this isn’t everything. What other things have you heard black mothers say?
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