Mother's Day 2015 reminds us of wisdom and wit

Do you ever hear your mother's voice, popping into your head, when you least expect it?

Turns out, some of those witty and wise sayings you grew up with really stick. In honour of Mother's Day this Sunday, CBC's Information Morning asked listeners to share their mum's favourite sayings. Here are just some of the responses.

Cathy Buchanan — Tantallon

If we were looking for something and couldn't find it, my mother would say, "Look again and this time open your eyes."

Jack Langlois — Stellarton

She thought I was running with the wrong crowd at the age of 10 or 11. She looked me in the eye, which was probably last time she could because she was only five feet, and so was I at the time.

She said to me, "Jackie, don't you ever lie." I said, "Why's that, Mom?" Her answer: "Because you're not smart enough to remember."

I lived by it the rest of my life.

Marjorie Johnston — Bridgetown 

"If wishes were fishes the world would be fed."

She would say this when we were saying, "I wish I could do this that or the other thing," meaning that we often wish for many things but the odds of them coming true were slim to none.

Dave Kenneally — Chester

"Why can't everybody be as perfect as me and thee ... and even sometimes I wonder about thee." She still says it at almost 94 years old.

Mary Mills — Halifax

My mother always used to say, "Water can cleanse everything but sin."

James MacCormack — Halifax

If we were underfoot as she did her housework, mom would let us know by saying, "Pretend you're saved and fly to your Jesus out of here!"

Sandy MacLeod 

Whenever I would get upset or angry my mother would tell me, "Hold on to your temper. No one else wants it." Helps me today!

Hold onto your temper. No one else wants it.- Sandy MacLeod

Joan Dunn — Dartmouth

When one of us nine children would ask her what was for supper, she would say, "Hot tongue and cold shoulder."

Shelley McCallum — Onslow

My mother was a teacher and so education was really important to her. Even today at age 89, she takes a great interest and pride in hearing about her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and how they're doing in school.

When we were kids and we used to groan, she would once again remind us, "Remember, education is the lightest load you will ever carry."

However, as we aged we realized we were lucky to have a mother who realized the value of education and pushed us to be the best we were.

Nova Bannerman — Barney's River

Keep in mind my mother's expression was coined decades before we all jumped on the recycling band wagon.

"Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without."

This was usually followed or proceeded by "Waste not, want not." My mother was born in Scotland, one of a family of 13 children.

Alida Favour — Halifax

Translated from Dutch: "Don't respond to an idiot with more idiocy."

You can't put old heads on young shoulders.- Joan MacDonald, New Glasgow

Joan MacDonald — New Glasgow

"You can't put old heads on young shoulders."

Karen MacKenzie — Truro 

[My mother] was widowed at a young age in rural Nova Scotia with nine children to feed. "There's no free lunch," "If you want to play you have to pay," "Be very careful what you do because what goes around comes around," "Do onto others as you would have them do onto you."

To her children when they had children: "I brought up nine children of my own, I don't think it's my job to bring up yours."