There’s a moment — and it happens to all of us — when we hear ourselves say something and instantly freeze.
Not because it’s wrong…
But because it’s our mother’s voice coming out of our mouth.
It might be in the kitchen.
It might be in the car.
It might be whispered while folding laundry at 10 PM for no good reason at all.
And that’s when you realize:
Oh no… I’ve become her.
But truthfully? That might be the best thing that’s ever happened to you.
“Clean up as you go along.”
I can still hear my mama saying this — especially in the kitchen. I started cooking when I was barely tall enough to see over the counter, and somehow, that one little sentence stuck like glue.
To this day, whether I’m cooking dinner, organizing a workspace, or just tidying up life in general — I hear her:
Clean up as you go along.
Simple. Practical. Peace-saving.
It turns out it wasn’t just about a tidy kitchen.
It was about respect… for your space, your time, and yourself.
“You could make it for less.”
Now that one hit different — and shaped my whole life.
My mama taught me to sew, to create, to look at something finished and think, I can make that — and I can make it better.
That tiny sentence is probably the reason I went to Design School in San Francisco. It taught me creativity, independence, and the beauty of making things with my own two hands.
Even today, when I look at clothing on a rack, I still hear her whisper:
"You could make it for less…"
And somehow, she’s still right.
“If you’re not going to do it right, don’t do it at all.”
Well… hello, perfectionism.
Gift and curse, working together in perfect harmony.
This was the phrase that made me who I am — someone who cares deeply, obsesses (respectfully) over details, and wants things to be just right.
Is it exhausting sometimes? Absolutely.
Is it also why My Mama Said exists, looks beautiful, and means something?
100%.
Thank you, Mama. Even when you stressed me out a little.
“Because I said so!”
Let’s be honest… we hated this one as kids. No explanation. No debate. No appeals process.
Just:
Because. I. Said. So.
But here’s the hilarious plot twist —
One day, I heard it come out of my own mouth… directed at my poor, innocent son.
I froze.
He froze.
And we both knew… Mama had officially possessed me. 😂
Somewhere, she was smiling.
“Money doesn’t grow on trees”
Another classic. Another eye-roll as a kid.
And then… adulthood happened.
Rent. Groceries. Gas. Bills. Responsibilities.
Suddenly, mama’s voice shows up in your bank account and starts making a whole lot of sense.
She wasn’t being dramatic.
She was being correct.
Love, no matter what
Of all the things my mama passed down — her songs (off-key but happy), her cooking, her wisdom, her sewing skills — the most powerful was this:
Unconditional love.
The kind that shows up in hugs that fix everything.
The kind that looks at you and sees only your best.
The kind that makes this world feel a little softer.
That’s the kind of love we’re weaving into My Mama Said.
Because that phrase?
That love?
It deserves to be worn. Shared. Remembered.
Maybe it’s not just nostalgia…
Maybe it’s legacy.
Our mamas didn’t just raise us.
They programmed us — with humor, heart, common sense, strength, and a surprising amount of sass.
And now, one day at a time, we carry their wisdom forward.
On our lips.
In our choices.
On our children.
And sometimes… on our tees, mugs, and hoodies.
Because some words are just too good to forget.
Now it’s your turn:
What did your mama always say?
Was it loving? Sassy? Strict? Hilarious?
💬 Drop her favorite phrase in the comments
📨 Or send it to us at talktomama@mymamasaid.com
👕 It just might become our next design
And if it already exists in the shop…
Well, Mama always did have good taste.
With love, laughter & one big hug,
Team My Mama Said
