44 Adult Children Online Open Up About Their Moms’ Best Catchphrases, And Some Are Simply Iconic

One of my mom's favorite phrases is "I told you so!" Moreover, it didn’t actually matter whether she had previously warned about good or negative consequences, the most important thing was to say these words. At first I was surprised by such incredible ‘insight,’ then it infuriated me... and only as an adult, I realized that every mother simply has her own catchphrase!

In fact, this phenomenon is so damn common that there are three viral threads in the AskReddit community - nearly one thread per year - in which users share the most iconic catchphrases from their moms. And here is a summary of the best of the best in these threads, made for you by Bored Panda.

More info: Reddit

#1

When she gets lost driving: "The world's round, we'll get there eventually".

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And in fact, it is not so important under what circumstances our mothers uttered certain words - the main thing is that they were etched into our memory for many years. Our moms may have managed to grow old or even leave this world, but their favorite expressions have stayed with us for the long term, and some of us have even begun to use these words too. So to speak, to use our moms' cultural legacy.

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After all, what is a person if not a set of unique memories, character traits - and, of course, the perception of them by other people? For some, these catchhrases were associated with joyful moments in life, for others - with sad ones. But still, for almost any of us, the mother occupies a very special place in life.

After all, this is the person who brought us into this world. A person of whom we were actually a part for the long months preceding our birth. And therefore, even if we strongly disagree with these phrases, over the years their perception still changes to something warm, homely and a tad bit ironic...

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“Each of us, of course, has our own unique personal traits, and specific words, phrases and even filler words also form part of us,” says Irina Matveeva, a psychologist and certified NLP specialist, with whom Bored Panda got in touch for a comment here. "And our parents are no exception of course."

“The perception of even the funniest and most ridiculous phrases from our parents changes over the years and as we grow up. And we often end up using these words ourselves. At least I knew one family where the same comic saying was passed on for at least four generations. Moreover, the younger ones already used the phrase consciously, as the family's ‘unique feature.’"

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"The nature of human memory is such that we tend to perceive many things from our childhood and youth with warmth, and various bad memories are actually 'washed out' from our reminiscences. This happens from year to year, from decade to decade - and now it’s our kids’ turn to crack up at our own 'mommish' wordings! This is life, and nothing can be done about it. Maybe someone could perceive this as yet another 'mom phrase'," Irina smiles.

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What else is left to add? Maybe to suggest that you scroll this list to the very end, read all these stories, smile and smile once more - and, perhaps, recognize the features of your own mom in someone’s nameless parent? In the end, mothers are all the same, at least in terms of love for their children. Even if these kids do not always realize this. Well, let’s just read and have a great time reading!

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#18

People in Hell want icewater, and they don't get it either. As a small child I used to point at things in stores and go "Oooooh, I want that!" She'd respond with that phrase. Now that I'm grown it's a joke. The other day we were driving to the grocery store and she mentioned wanting pizza from a certain restaurant that was closed. I grinned and said, "People in Hell want icewater, and they don't get it either!" She laughed and called me a smarta**.

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Whenever my sister or I would complain about doing chores: "What do you think you are, just a souvenir of a good time?" It took me YEARS to figure that one out.“It’s only money” Generally used after paying a large medical bill, or if we got in a fender bender. She isn’t a big spender, but she never put too much weight in money, as she viewed it as a tool, not her self-worth or identity."It doesn't matter what you end up doing in life as long as you're happy." She can be wise sometimes.She runs through each of the kids' names before she gets to the one she actually wants to call. "Ti-Jaa- Sarah!""Dont come crying to me later...".If it was a snake it would've bit you! When I was looking for something in plain sightMe: *does something stupid * My mom: "common sense, not common in everyone.".“It’s not what you say it’s how you say it” CEO of not putting up with my angsty teen attitude. This phrase used to drive me crazy."Are you drinking enough water?" Headache? Drink more water. Upset stomach? Drink water. Bad grades? You need more water. Bone protruding from your knee? Drink some water, you'll be fine.Grain by grain, you can create a mountain. Everytime she finishes a chore she says it like a mantra. Mother of 4 and we are close in age, my dad worked 14h days so she did all the housework herself. She went back to work when we were older and apparently her co-workers tell us she also says it everytime she finishes something.English is my mom's second language, so instead of saying "It's my way or the highway" my mom says "My way is the highway."“Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.”.“You can’t fly with the eagles when you run with the turkeys” It’s served me well so far.I brought you into this world and I'll take you the f**k out of it. Usually while holding this giant metal rolling pin she had."You catch more flies with honey than vinegar."."Listen to me now and believe me later."When she gets startled she'll say "Heavens to Murgatroyd!" which we've come to understand was stolen from a Yogi Bear character.At the grocery store and looking at prices: "What? Do they put gold in it?""Look with your eyes, not with your mouth" heard this one too many times when asking mum to help me find stuff.“Choices and consequences” recently I quoted it to my daughter (she was dancing in the bath,slipped and banged her head) and I realised I am my mum.You reap what you sow."Know what I mean, Jellybean?" My bf says if you asked his mom what's for dinner, a common response would be.. "fried farts, and pickled a******s" lol - shes very eccentric."We've got food at home"“Finesse, not force” I have to admit over the years it’s helped me step back and take a breath before I end up breaking something to shit in frustration.Every time we went on vacation when we started complaining she would yell "We are making MEMORIES."Muuuuuum what's for dinner? "S**t with sugar on top"."Wait! This bit's poisoned!" Said every time she walked past me, while I was eating something; then promptly followed by her grabbing the "poisoned" bit of whatever I was eating and eating it herself. She did this everyday while I lived under her roof. She still does it every time I visit or we go out for dinner."Long story short" Even when there wasn't a story, even when nobody has been speaking.“All I know is, I love you” followed by a close second “I’m doing the best I can”My mom would say this in Spanish. “No te estoy diciendo te estoy mandando” translation “I'm not telling you , I'm ordering you”. Basically telling us to do something for her.“This is not a hotel!”"Could you do me a huuuge favor?" "Yeah sure what?" "Could you put that glass in the sink?"Mom: "Would you like something to eat?" Me: "Nah, I'm not hungry thanks" ....5 minutes later..... Mom: "Would you like something to eat?" ....... Repeated every 5 minutes until I go home. On a side note, this has reminded me to give her a call Edit: By the way, didn’t realise it was Mother’s Day in the US today, here in the UK we had it weeks ago, I wasn't just ignoring my mom!"Are your ears painted on!?" - any time I wasn't listening."Eat it now while it's hot, or you'll have to eat it later when it's cold."."Play with the knife, you might end your life" She used to tell me this whenever I told her I was going to cook. 20 years later, I tell her this since I have been to culinary school and have worked with many professional chefs before.Are you yankin my d**k? Instead of are you kidding me. My moms a special lady.She was really good at faux profanity like "dad gummit!"."It is what it is."."Clean up your f*****g room".The “im your mother” / “i gave birth to you” somehow this entitles them to everything, things i dont even own yet.IM GETTING THE BELT.