Erma Bombeck and The Art of Saying Nothing
Erma Bombeck was My Mom’s Favorite Author
I have always been a fan of Erma Bombeck. My mother loved her writing and so growing up Erma was a part of my family. She wasn’t physically present in my house, but she was there. Momma would clip Erma’s “At Wit’s End” articles and leave them on my pillow for me to find when I came in at night. Now that my mother and Erma are both gone, I have often thought that the two of them had a lot in common. For one thing they both understood the art of saying nothing, which is an art I have yet to master.
Perhaps they learned it from their mothers. Erma is quoted as saying, “I love my mother for all the times she said absolutely nothing…. Thinking back on it all, it must have been the most difficult part of mothering she ever had to do: knowing the outcome, yet feeling she had no right to keep me from charting my own path. I thank her for all her virtues, but mostly for never once having said, “I told you so.”
I love my children beyond measure and over the years there have been a few occasions when I have managed to keep my mouth shut on issues I felt strongly about, but more often than not I say what I am thinking. I try….I really do, but if I don’t say anything my facial expressions tell what I’m thinking so I might as well go ahead and say it….right???
There is a time for everything, after all. Ecclesiastes 3:7 says, “a time to be silent and a time to speak.” But as a parent how do you know when those times are?
I do know this to be true, one a child is hurting (no matter how old they are) more often than not the smart thing to do is open your arms and shut your mouth. Now that one I CAN do! This momma’s arms are always open!
Today is Thursday and this is a blog hop. What are you thinking about today?
Finally linking up with my Friday Flash Blog community. Thanks for linking up and sharing in the fun! Have a terrific week and see you this evening.
Hi Teresa,
I’m hosting a Monday hop @ http://theseamanmom.blogspot.com/2013/04/smiles_15.html and it would be a great honor to have one of your pretty posts linked up and shared with my friends 🙂
Have a happy week.
I have heard of Erma I am going to have to look her up. Yes our arm are always open we love unconditional, keeping the mouth shut is a tough one. It is always nice to fine another hop. Visiting from the weekend hop
Living F.A.B.ulously on Purpose
Hi there! I have ventured over from Thumpin’ Thursday. Thrilled to be connecting with someone new!
XOXO, Mandi @ All My Happy Endings
What a sweet post. I think if your arms are always open to your kiddos, they will forgive you if you open your mouth at the wrong time. 🙂
My mother loved Erma and she gave all of us many mornings of laughter by reading her column to us before school. I miss Erma. Thank you for bring back good memories.
Visiting here via Friendship Friday. Have a great weekend!
~ Cassandra from Renaissance Women
Hi, Teresa! I found you over at From Grandma With Love’s bog hop! It was so great to read about Erma today, and to be reminded about the power of saying nothing! 😉
I am now following you on Google+ and Facebook!
Joy @ Yesterfood.blogspot.com
Erma was always my favorite. She actually did our commencement speech at my college graduation a long long time ago! A very special lady indeed… And you are right about knowing when to keep your mouth shut and just answering with a hug. Great post!
I opened my mouth too often and still do. I am learning to stay quiet when it is best to do so.
I loved Irma too, and that was so nice of your mom to save the clippings of articles for you.
Thanks so much for participating in the TNT blog hop!
“…open your arms and shut your mouth” words to live by. 🙂 Thanks for inviting me to join your hop. I went ahead and entered my link. 🙂
I have never heard of Erma Bombeck before but am going to take a look on the internet for her writing. She sounds like an amazing woman. Popping over from the Weekend Social Mix blog hop xo
I wish I could be better at saying nothing when appropriate.
http://joycelansky.blogspot.com/2013/04/atoz-j-jewish-holidays.html
It sounds as if Erma Bombeck was a very interesting lady. At times silence is indeed golden!:) Thanks for hosting and enjoy the rest of your week.
Are you my long lost sister? Did Mom adopt you out? Erma lived at our house too!! I wouldn’t have found you at all if I hadn’t checked into Create-with-joy and seen Erma’s picture. Check out my blog.
I can relate to your post, I have such a hard time biting my tongue. I am going to have to work on this as my children grow older it will be a much needed skill! 🙂
Growing up I loved her and Abby.
I used to love reading Erma when I was a girl!
Erma Bombeck was such an inspirational woman. Hilarious too! I remember when her book came out while I was working at a bookstore. I would steal away every few minutes to read it lol.
That is crazy! We are on the same wave link! Blessings to you Loy!
This is so bizarre Teresa, but just a few weeks ago I, too, wrote a post about Erma Bombeck! I loved her dearly too and like your mother, my mother was forever reading Erma’s column to me! Thanks for hosting!