Sage Advice from a Farmer’s Wife

There’s a lot of wisdom that goes unsung, just casually told from parent to child in the little moments between life’s bigger moments. Advice from Mom or Grandma was often humble, but usually spot on. It’s in this spirit that we share with you these uncredited words of wisdomwhich have been floating around online for a few years now. “Advice From a Farmer’s Wife” offers some lessons we may have forgotten over the years.

Some of these tips are just about being kind, which is why we love this list so much. Other tips that make a lot of sense are just about keeping your life (and all the problems that go with) in perspective. It’s probably why it has been shared so many times on social media as well. See what you think of the 25 tips from “Advice from a Farmer’s Wife” below.

25) Whenever you return a borrowed pie pan, make sure it’s got a warm pie in it.

24) Invite lots of folks to supper. You can always add more water to the soup.

23) There’s no such thing as woman’s work on a farm. There’s just work.

22) Make home a happy place for the children. Everybody returns to their happy place.

21) Always keep a small light on in the kitchen window at night.

20) If your man gets his truck stuck in the field, don’t go in after him. Throw him a rope and pull him out with the tractor.

19) Keep the kerosene lamp away from the milk cow’s leg.

18) It’s a whole lot easier to get breakfast from a chicken than a pig.

17) Always pat the chickens when you take their eggs.

16) It’s easy to clean an empty house, but hard to live in one.

15) All children spill milk. Learn to smile and wipe it up.

14) Homemade is always better than store bought.

13) A tongue’s like a knife. The sharper it is the deeper it cuts.

12) A good neighbor always knows when to visit and when to leave.

11) A city dog wants to run out the door, but a country dog stays on the porch because he’s not fenced-in.

10) Always light birthday candles from the middle outward.

9) Nothing gets the frustrations out better than splitting wood.

8) The longer dress hem, the more trusting the husband.

7) Enjoy doing your children’s laundry. Some day they’ll be gone.

6) You’ll never catch a running chicken but if you throw seed around the back door you’ll have a skillet full by supper.

5) Biscuits brown better with a little butter brushed on them.

4) Check your shoelaces before running to help somebody.

3) Visit old people who can’t get out. Some day you’ll be one.

2) The softer you talk, the closer folks’ll listen.

1) The colder the outhouse, the warmer the bed.

Did you hear these tips growing up? What are some words of wisdom that you learned from your mother about kindness and taking care of the house?