The Daily – For Mother’s Day, Classic Mom-isms
Podcast: The Daily
Hosts: Rachel Abrams, Michael Barbaro, Natalie Kitroeff (featuring Rachel Abrams)
Air Date: May 10, 2026
Episode Theme:
A heartwarming Mother’s Day special celebrating “mom-isms”—the timeless advice, idiosyncratic mantras, and loving admonitions mothers pass down to their children. Through listener-submitted voice memos from across North America, the episode explores the wisdom, humor, and comfort found in the things mothers say.
Episode Overview
Hosted by Rachel Abrams and her mother, Alice Chesler Abrams, this special edition invites listeners to share unforgettable mom-isms—those phrases, sayings, and bits of advice mothers use to guide, comfort, teach, or sometimes simply bewilder their children. The episode celebrates the diversity and universality of “mom wisdom,” highlighting both unique family quirks and phrases that echo across generations. Interwoven are personal stories, moments of humor, and emotional reflections, culminating with touching advice from Alice to all future moms.
Key Themes & Discussion Points
The Power and Purpose of Mom-isms
- Rachel Abrams introduces the concept: “We've been collecting all of these expressions that moms say, like mom mantras. We're sort of calling them little bits of advice that moms repeat over time.” (00:49)
- The episode emphasizes the way these sayings serve as guiding stars, sources of humor, and sometimes lifelong mottos.
Mom-isms from the Hosts’ Family
A Chorus of Listener-submitted Mom-isms
[~05:48–29:40]
A diverse mix of voices from across the country—and beyond—share their mothers’ most memorable sayings and the stories behind them.
Humor and Tough Love
- “All tragedy starts out in fun.” – Jane Dee (05:48)
- “You're not the only tin can in the dump.” – Toby Crockett (06:31)
- “You're just rattling around like a fart in a skillet.” – Toby Crockett (06:38)
- “Gargle with salt water, grab it and growl.” – Kerry O'Grady (06:33)
- “No sex, no drugs, only rock and roll.” – Janine (10:54)
- “Don't teach your grandmother how to suck eggs.” – Toby Crockett (11:18)
- Toby interprets this: “Hey, stupid whippersnapper, don’t tell me how to do what I already know how to do, like a million times better than you do. ... It's sort of like the all purpose version of mansplaining.” (11:42–12:28)
- “If you feel bad, look better.” – Kerry O'Grady (15:46)
- Kerry reflects: “When I get to work and a student says to me … 'I love your outfit today,' ... I immediately feel more awake than I would otherwise, more ready to conquer my day. And while I'm still not ready to say my mom was right, I'll admit that she was onto something.” (16:49)
Calm and Comfort
- “When in doubt, clean.” – Gwen Harvey (07:48)
- “If something is bothering you, dear child, put yourself to work… At least you come away with some evidence of things being better.”
- “Just because someone throws you a football doesn't mean you have to catch it.” – Danielle (20:37)
- “You can just say thank you for the feedback and just not take it in because it wasn't yours.” (20:53)
- “Some things just are.” – Kelsey (21:15)
Life Wisdom and Reassurance
- “With one behind, you can't sit on the whole world.” – Jessie K. (09:31)
- “You can’t do everything at once.”
- “There is many a slip between the cup and the lip.” – Giselle Gauguin (10:02)
- “Everything is always changing all the time, everywhere.”
- “If you're lost, any road will take you there.” – Jeff (22:12)
- “This too shall pass.” – Kay (23:36)
- Kay, reflecting, “Now I’m 61 years old, I kind of get it. … I would so love to hear her say that to me again. I miss you, Mom.” (23:44)
- “You're a human being, not a human doing.” – Rosemary Rowe (27:48)
- Rosemary, addressing her recovering mother: “Mom, you’re a human being, not a human doing.” (28:49)
Playful and Idiosyncratic
- “Take an onion out of that stew.” (Texas grandma’s version of “I know you're lying to me.”) – Richard Martin (07:26)
- “Boo.” (A teacher’s response to feeling powerless.) – Alex (06:44–07:20)
- “We can make that.” (Shopping with Mom.) – Nissan (17:10)
- “The grass will soon turn to milk.” (Farm wisdom about patience.) – Erin (17:41)
Mortality, Loss, and Letting Go
- “There isn’t a shroud with pockets big enough.” – Anna Curtis (18:54)
- “Life is for the now and the living and you have to grab it.”
- “God punishes you.” – Diane Falcone (22:27)
- “It was horrifying… but I feel like it was my mom’s way of saying, well, you must have done something to deserve that.”
- “If wishes were horses, then beggars would ride.” – Sarah (26:08)
- “Life throws stuff at us and you didn’t want it… and you can wish it wasn’t happening, and I did, but that doesn’t get you very far.”
Encouragement, Self-worth, and Resilience
- “Roll with the cookie.” – Sean Stytham (15:11)
- A family-original mashup: “Roll with the punches” + “That’s the way the cookie crumbles.”
- “Sing out, Louise.” – Jonathan Kabirda (13:11)
- “To always let your presence be known in every room that you walk into, to make a choice, be specific in that choice, damn the torpedoes on whatever choice you did make, and to carpe diem.”
- “Give them the Syrian love.” – Phoebe (14:16)
- About using her heritage’s “intense, unfriendly, frowning faces” as a tool to stand up for herself.
- “Don’t make big decisions late at night.” – Amy Marcus (24:38)
- “I really wish I could call her, and I can’t because she passed away... But then I would hear my mom’s voice and she would say, no, don’t. Don’t do this right now… Make this decision when you’re feeling a little more rested and can think a little more clearly.” (24:38–25:59)
The Shared Refrain: Universal Mom-isms Montage
[18:21–18:54; 24:21–24:32]
A rapid-fire series of memorable lines:
- “Oh, honey, she suffers from terminal uniqueness.”
- “100 years from now, who will know the difference?”
- “If in doubt, do without.”
- “Oh God, who cares?”
- “We’re on an adventure.”
- “Don’t make fun of something that someone that you love loves.”
- “There’s no pillow as soft as a clear conscience.”
- “Rain makes you beautiful.”
- “Misery is optional.”
- “It’s never so bad that it couldn’t be worse.”
- “Love yourself first.”
Advice for Future Moms
[31:18–32:35]
- Rachel prompts her mother: “Now that we've listened to a whole lot of wisdom from other moms… do you have any advice for future moms?” (31:19)
- Alice Chesler Abrams replies with her own mantra:
“When you have kids, you do the best job that you can, and then you pray that they forgive you.” (31:38)
- She explains:
“We all do the best we can with what we have. It’s the hardest job in the world, and we’re all second guessing ourselves… And you just pray and you just love them.” (31:47–32:35)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
On Presence and Appreciation
- “If you look at things as you would look at them from the future, then you can see how precious they are much more easily.”
— Alice Chesler Abrams (01:25)
Wisdom Wrapped in Humor
- “You're not the only tin can in the dump.” (06:31)
- “You're just rattling around like a fart in a skillet.” (06:38)
Practicality and Comfort
- “When in doubt, clean.” (07:48)
- “Roll with the cookie.” (15:11)
- “Don't make big decisions late at night.” (24:38)
Resilience and Letting Go
- “This too shall pass.” — Kay (23:36)
- “Some things just are.” — Kelsey (21:15)
- “Life is for the now and the living and you have to grab it.” — Anna Curtis (19:10)
Endearing Mother-Daughter Banter
- Alice, after nailing the show’s intro:
- “From the New York Times, I'm Alice Chesler Abrams, and this is the Sunday Daily.” (03:09)
Emotional Closures
- Reflection on loss and legacy—multiple listeners share sayings from mothers who have passed, expressing longing, gratitude, and generational continuity.
- Rachel to Alice: “Happy Mother’s Day, Mom.” (32:42)
- Alice: “Oh, my God. Happy mother’s day, honey. ... Thank you. I love you too, honey. Okay, now I have to go recover.” (32:44–32:53)
Key Timestamps
| Segment | Speaker(s) | Content/Quote |
|------------------------------- |--------------------- |-----------------------------------------------------|
| 00:49–01:13 | Rachel & Alice | Introduction to the “Mom-isms” episode |
| 01:25–01:40 | Alice Chesler Abrams | Origin and meaning of “These are the good old days” |
| 05:48–07:20 | Jane Dee, Alex, etc. | Humorous mom-isms with stories |
| 07:48–10:02 | Gwen Harvey, Jessie K, Giselle G. | Advice for resilience and patience |
| 11:18–12:28 | Toby Crockett | “Don’t teach your grandmother to suck eggs” explained|
| 13:11 | Jonathan Kabirda | “Sing out, Louise” and its meaning |
| 14:16–15:11 | Phoebe | Using her “Syrian look” as self-protection |
| 15:46–16:49 | Kerry O'Grady | “If you feel bad, look better”—an evolving lesson |
| 17:10–17:41 | Nissan, Erin | Family-crafted expressions of resourcefulness/patience|
| 18:54–20:09 | Anna Curtis | “There isn’t a shroud with pockets big enough” |
| 20:37–21:15 | Danielle, Kelsey | Boundaries, acceptance, and “some things just are” |
| 22:12–23:36 | Jeff, Diane Falcone, Kay | Navigating faith, confusion, and time passing |
| 24:38–25:59 | Amy Marcus, Rachel | The importance of rest before big decisions |
| 27:48–29:40 | Rosemary Rowe | “You’re a human being, not a human doing” |
| 31:18–32:35 | Rachel & Alice | Advice to future mothers |
| 32:42–32:53 | Rachel & Alice | Emotional Mother’s Day sign-off |
Final Reflections
The Daily’s Mother’s Day special is a tapestry of laughter, wisdom, and tenderness—highlighting the ways our mothers’ words become part of the stories we tell about ourselves. From deeply personal mottos to regionally distinct quips, these classic mom-isms shape, comfort, cajole, and sometimes confound us, but always remind us of where we came from and the love that steered us.