Although the mother is passing along life learned lessons and survival techniques to her daughter, she has predefined what type woman she want to prevent her daughter of becoming.
             After being informed of certain behaviors about her daughter ("is it true that you sing benna in Sunday school?"23), Mom decides it is time to sit Girl down and have 'the talk'. This talk consists of instructions and restrictions of everyday life for women.
             Mom lovingly gives Girl lots of instructions needed by every woman in her generation. She tells her of washing clothes ("Wash the white clothes on Monday and put them on the stone heap"23), cooking meals ("soak salt fish overnight before you cook it"23), shopping ("when buying cotton to make yourself a nice blouse, be sure that it doesn't have gum on it"23), and setting the table ("this is how you set a table for tea; this is how you set a table for dinner; this is how you set a table for dinner with an important guest; this is how you set a table for lunch; this is how you set a table for breakfast"24). She also explains sewing ("this is how to sew on a button; this is how to make a button hole for the button you have just sewed on"23), gardening ("this is how you grow okra ---- far from the house, because okra tree harbors red ants"24), house cleaning ("this is how you sweep a corner; this is how you sweep a whole house; this is how you sweep a yard"24), and greeting others ("this is how you smile to someone you don't like too much; this is how you smile to someone you don't like at all; this is how you smile to someone you like completely"24). Although necessary and with a thread of reality, the instructions are not without fun and games to include the lighter side of life. "this is how you spit up in the air if you feel like it, and this is how to move quick so that it doe...