What is the best advice your mom ever gave you?

[AKL_Megs]

My mom heard this discussed on a radio show the other day, and asked me this same question yesterday when we had lunch together.

I felt so terrible, as I couldn't think of one piece of advice, but rather, about a million THINGS she has TAUGHT me.

I am just curious what others will say...

 

[Hermosa11]

I am in the same boat. My mom passed away when I was 29yr,(I am 53yr) but I never received any profound advise either.

 

[golfgal]

"Just because you can doesn't mean you should." It can apply in a lot of different situations but this was specifically with raising kids. When our oldest was little we thought nothing of getting him a little treat every time we went to the store. He didn't whine or beg for them, we just got him something. My mom pointed out that it wasn't the best idea to always buy him something because he will grow to expect that and the expectations will only get more costly. It made a lot of sense. It is GOOD to say no to your kids once in a while if not most of the time.

 

[HOGFAN]

Go with your gut feeling.

from everything from clothes to jobs. your conscience is almost always right.

 

[DVCLiz]

My mom heard this discussed on a radio show the other day, and asked me this same question yesterday when we had lunch together.

I felt so terrible, as I couldn't think of one piece of advice, but rather, about a million THINGS she has TAUGHT me.

I am just curious what others will say...

"This too shall pass."

I always hated to hear her say it when I was younger - what do you mean my teenage crisis is not the most important life-altering event to happen in the history of mankind - but now I know she was right.

It's very comforting to know that whatever it is - ultimately it will end or you will find a way to cope with it and it will lose its importance on you. Now I use it with my daughters!!

 

[4nana]

Mom's wonderful example was the best advise I could have been taught, plus she has patience of a saint and faith of an angel.

 

[sallysmom]

My mom told me to get my daughter started drinking water. The earlier the better. Not in place of breast milk, formula or vital food, but in addition to. To this day she loves water and I'm proud to say the few times she's tried soda, she hates it.

Thanks mom!

 

[WDWBarb]

To never rely on anyone but yourself, but be reliable to all of those who rely on you.

Sounded weird to me at the time, but today I know exactly what she was talking about.

 

[sms]

Respect yourself!

 

[mjkacmom]

My mom encouraged me to live on my own before getting married and living with my husband. I did it for about 5 years, and am so glad I did. It was a small part of my life that I was 100% responsible for only me, on my own.

 

[barkley]

"noone ever said life was going to always be fair".

i've amended this with my kids to "life is'nt always fair, sometimes it's a circus and you're stuck with the job of cleaning up after the elephants-just be thankful you've still got a job".

 

[cc1013]

"When that little voice in your head tells you something is wrong about a situation...listen to it!" Simple, but incredibly valuable advice.

Thanks Mom!

 

[jfoofj]

"Travel before you have kids"- she had me when she was 18 and didn't do a whole lot before she had 3 kids... I'm glad I did/saw a lot before I had my son.

"Save for a rainy day, but live today too"- I watched my former MIL save and save and scrimp and scrape, putting everything off to do when she retired. She retired and died six months later of stomach CA. My mom might not have the biggest retirement account, but she enjoys herself and doing what she wants to do.

 

[Danauk]

Always live to fulfill your dreams, but work hard so you can afford it.

I remember when I was 10 years old my mum asked me to think of 6 experiences I wanted to have when I was older. It had to be things which you had to work hard so you could experience them. I choose:
1) Swim with dolphins
2) Go whitewater rafting
3) Visit the Grand Canyon
4) See an opera at Sydney opera house
5) Scuba dive on the Great Barrier Reef
6) Go up in a hot air balloon.

So far I have done numbers 1 - 3. Number 4 I will achieve next summer, number 5 within the next 5 years and number 6 when we next go to WDW for Christmas 2010 (I saw the balloons rising in the sky in the early morning from our balcony at AKL and I decided then that was what I wanted to do for the balloon dream!)

 

[dakcp2001]

My mom used to always remind us that "it is nice to be important but it is FAR more important to be nice"

 

[FireDancer]

I was in either 3rd or 4th grade and she sat me down and had a discussion with me about self esteem. She taught me (then and throughout life) that the only person who's opinion of me matters is mine. Everyone will get made fun of about something but don't let it effect you, and it never did. Don't look to other people, either friends or celebrities, as to how to act, what to wear, or anything else like that. Be your own individual. Most important never follow, lead.

I learned that lesson then and lived it growing up and it molded me a lot. Like everyone when I was a kid I was made fun of for stuff but it never bothered me. I was small so learned to respond with humor and was always very good at laughing at myself. I always had confidence and because I thought I could succeed at anything I tried I did. I never gave into peer pressure to smoke or do drugs and while like all teens I partied with my friends I never did anything I didn't want to do.

Teaching self confidence is the most important thing a parent can do in my opinion. That is why when I see all this stuff about people killing themselves because they get made fun of a little bit or blaming their friends for the decisions they make I call shenanigans. I know that even a very young kid can do their own independent thinking and not let what others say or do effect how they view themselves.

The other thing that stands out is never settle for mediocrity, and that includes settling for being average.

 

[castleview]

Nothing from my mom. My dad told me before I left for college that guys love freshman girls. That's about it.

 

[laurafergie]

My late Grandmother gave me the best advice regarding raising children and it is so true!

"Your child will act the way you expect him to act."

She did not mean this in regards to manners, she meant it more in regards to - "Oh, he won't eat that!" or "He is afraid of dogs" and the like.

 

[golfgal]

My late Grandmother gave me the best advice regarding raising children and it is so true!

"Your child will act the way you expect him to act."

She did not mean this in regards to manners, she meant it more in regards to - "Oh, he won't eat that!" or "He is afraid of dogs" and the like.

I TOTALLY agree with your Grandmother. I would say that it does also extend to manners and such.

 

[Katieinwonderland]

"Never break a promise"

My mom always said this (she still does!!!) and I always remember it. I think it's so important for people around you to be able to rely on you to follow through. When I say I will do something, or be somewhere, or take care of a problem, I will do it.