My mother was the source of a few sayings that have survived her.  One she used grated on my nerves each time I heard it.  It had to do with my doing "chores" around the house.  I honestly wasn't burdened with very many but once in a while when I was actually doing something for her I would decide it was time to "take a break."  When Mother, noticing that I wasn't occupied at the moment, would many times disturb my leisureby telling me to do something else she wanted done.  "I'm resting, Mother!" I would plead.  Her answer to that was: "Well, you can do that while you're resting."   At that point I knew better than to ask, "But how can I rest and work at the same time?"   Reluctantly I "broke my break" and got back to work.

Another little phrase I heard more than a few times also had to do with my being asked to do something productive for her.  If I whined about how long it would take me to do whatever she wanted, her oft-times friendly but firm reply was: "Well, what's time to a hog?"   She wasn't suggesting that I was a "porker."  She was in a creative way telling me that my time wasn't as important as I thought it was.

I used both those phrases while our five kids were growing up.  They groused about them just as I did.  They remember them well.  I don't know if they've ever used them on their kids or not.

One quip I heard actually from my oldest brother - he was 12 years older than me.  I don't know if he originated it or not, but I liked it and used it when appropriate with our kids.  Whether or not it stands the test of time into future generations I'll never know.  It's useful anytime kids are being laggardly about getting out of bed in the morning or dawdling too much.   On those times they knew they would probably hear me say: "Get up and get ready to meet the man!"  They learned quickly that if they asked "What man?", my response would be "Opportunity."  He is going to knock on your door only once.  You'd better be ready for him."