Story by Rhylea Thompson

Whether it was “Don’t sit too close to the TV or you will get square eyes”, “Eat your vegetables – they will put hairs on your chest” or to “Always say please and thank you”, our mums taught us the best life lessons.

It is only fitting that we take a stroll down memory lane with the 2025 Queensland Seniors Month theme being “Things Our Mums Used to Say”.

CELEBRATING SENIORS: Annual event Queensland Seniors Month has commenced, with the 2025 theme being ‘Things our Mums used to say”. Picture: Contributed (Source: Queensland Government / Department of Seniors).

Some of our Seasons residents have shared the timeless pearls of wisdom their mums passed down to them, which they have carried throughout their lives.

Queensland Seniors Month is an annual initiative held throughout October, providing a special opportunity to celebrate you – our incredible residents.

Thank you for being your individual, unique selves, and for choosing to call Seasons home.

Margaret:
“If you’ve got nothing nice to say, hush your mouth.”

Peter:
“‘Up a day’ which I assumed meant we had a big day ahead of us.”

Terry:
“Shut the door behind you – you don’t live in a tent!”

Arthur:
“‘If you don’t eat your crusts, your hair won’t grow’… I guess I never ate my crusts!”

Josie:
“Make sure your hands are clean.”

Geraldine:
“The good lord played fullback for Jerusalem.”

Catherine:
“Never cry over spilt milk.”

Jane:
“Sticks and stones will break my bones, but names will never hurt me.”

Carol:
“My mother never used to swear so instead she would always say ‘Poop, bum, cack and ladies’ drawers.”

Laurelle:
“My mum was very superstitious, so we weren’t allowed to open umbrellas in the house, walk under ladders or use the number 13.”

Gwen:
“My mum used to be very particular about the pronunciation of the English language so if she heard someone say they were ‘comin’ or ‘goin’ or ‘stayin’, she would say ‘That is not spelt like that in my dictionary’.”

Paula:
“When I took Mum out shopping, she would sit on a seat outside and wait. When I finished the shopping and went out to meet her, I would always find her talking to someone. She would say ‘This is my daughter and she will take you home’ and then mention one of her favourite sayings – ‘Nowhere’s too far if you have a car’.”

Jan:
“My parents used to always tell me that I had to stay at the dinner table until everything on my plate was gone. They would even turn off the light and leave me in the dark dining room by myself. My mum used to say ‘Think about all the starving people in the world’.”

John:
“When I told mum I was going to join the navy, she said ‘Yes, alright – but just promise me you will never go in the submarines’. Twenty-two years later, I qualified as a Submariner!”

Take a look at our upcoming events here or visit the Queensland Seniors Month Event Calendar.