In honor of Father’s Day, here’s some great advice that I’ve gotten from my Dad over the years.

• Invest in good paint brushes. The difference shows in the effort required to paint and the finished product.
• Same goes for tools. You may as well have a really good sander.
• Save for retirement. You can get loans for college, but not for just being old.
• Whatever it is, don’t put it off and don’t leave it half finished.
• Wash your car before a trip.
• Measure twice.
• Don’t be afraid to try to do things yourself, but do not mess around with electricity. Especially in an old house.
• Do the right thing at work, even when other people aren’t, and even when you think nobody’s going to notice. They’ll notice.
• Make the things you love a part of your life, but also be ready to get a real job. If they’re the same, great. But if not, you still need both.
• Say “Yes Ma’am” to your mother. And use all the other manners, too.
• Clean up when you’re finished.
• If three coats of polyurethane are good, six coats are better.
• Be on time. Being late is rude.

I didn’t think of this idea in May on Mother’s Day, but of course I have to include some great advice from my Mom as well.

• You can always rip out a seam and try it again.
• Don’t worry about what those girls are saying.
• When you get tired, stop working. You’re not going to be doing your best work then anyway.
• Try it. You can probably make it work.
• Keep your personal business personal.
• When your baby/toddler/child is happy doing something, leave it alone.
• When throwing a party, err on the side of too much food.
• Sunscreen and plenty of it.
• Nothing is more important than family.
• The water for yeast when you’re making biscuits should be a little warmer than you think.
• Handmade is better. The time you put in is what makes it special.
• Be involved at your kid’s school. Good for the school and good for the kid.
• Kids need to have a tantrum from time to time. That energy has to come out.
• Everything happens for a reason. (This is my least favorite to hear, but it almost always turns out to be true.)

Also, look how cute my mom is!

Thanks Mom and Dad! See? I pay more attention than you think!