Our mothers are some of the most important people in our lives, especially when you are raised by a strong woman. Thankfully, I had the blessing of being raised by a strong mama, and because of that, I learned a lot of very important lessons.
To be honest, the older I get, the more I realize how much my mother made an impact on my life. Growing up, we were at odds sometimes (as all young women are with their mothers) but through thick and thin, she always had my back. Looking back, I realize I had the best mom on Earth, and her strength made me strong too!
1. To be empathetic.
My mother is one of the most empathetic people I know. Growing up, she spent time volunteering and helping and loving others. She has one of the most empathetic hearts I know, and I am grateful for that.
2. To stand up for those that cannot stand up for themselves.
When I was younger, my mother raised me to stand up for people who cannot stand up for themselves. She was always there to speak up for those that wouldn’t for themselves, and she wouldn’t stand for injustice. If she saw something going down that was wrong or unethical, you better believe she was going to say something about it.
3. Do not let others run over you.
My mother is very kind and very empathetic, but one thing she will not tolerate is anyone walking all over her. When people did, she was quick to assert boundaries and tell them what she would and wouldn’t put up with. And if they couldn’t respect that, she would show them the door.
4. Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you.
I remember when I was in school, and I would tell my mom about the kids that were rude or hateful. And she would always say “that’s because they haven’t been taught the Golden Rule.” And then she would say it out loud. That phrase has stuck in my mind from that time and onward.
5. Always do your research.
Whenever my mother doesn’t understand something, she researches it. She is a student of life and loves learning new things. Due to this, I gained an interest in learning whatever I could and researching things I didn’t understand.
6. Handle your business.
No matter what, my mother always took care of what needed to be taken care of. If we needed more money, she made it. If the house was dirty, she cleaned it. She took care of business always, even when she was struggling.
7. The importance of self-discipline.
Growing up, my mother would make us wake up at a certain time and go to bed at a certain time. Our rooms had to be clean, and we did chores. We all pitched in and helped out, and worked as a team, no matter what. Sometimes, I resented having to do chores. Now, I am glad she taught me these things because I believe I am far more disciplined than I would have otherwise been.
8. The meaning of unconditional love.
No matter what I did, my mother has loved me. Even at my worst, she accepted me back with open arms. And she is mine and my sister’s biggest advocate. She loves us unconditionally, and we learned to do the same through her.
9. To be grateful.
From an early age, I was taught the importance of being grateful for what you have. If I pitched a fit over something silly and meaningless, my mother would explain that I should be thankful for what we have. At the time, it may not have always been what I wanted to hear, but it made me into a more grateful person.
10. Never stop learning.
My mother is a student of life, who is always changing, growing, and evolving. She may not be perfect (no one is) but she understands that there is always more that can be learned or understood.
11. Question everything.
My mom is not one to blindly accept anything. Instead, she has questions, and a whole list of them to boot. I learned early on that you have to ask questions before jumping into anything.
12. If you are going to do something- do it right.
I cannot tell you how many times I tried to half-arse do something growing up, only to be made to do it over again. Yes, that may have been frustrating, but she was right, if you are going to do something, you should do it the right way. I can still hear her voice in my head sometimes saying that exact quote.