LOL---your post describing the "hold your head up, dear" remark just reminded me of Sally Field in the Steel Magnolias movie so much....
You are dead on with you description, but I saw the MOM on Fox and I don't know about her, she doesn't seem "southern" enough to give such good advice.
Did we all notice that Mama is not to get her daughter. I guess step-dad will have to give her "The Lecture".