What Is the MOST Valuable Thing You Learned from Your Mother?

Question

OK - all of us did not have June Cleaver for a Mom...the powers that be know I didn't.

But after age 50 I learned to count the blessings rather than the negatives and I found many things my mom gave me that have served me well in life.

For me [given we were a military family that went everywhere we could with my Dad] it was making a HOME no matter where we were, for how long or under what circumstances.

Even my grandaughter tells me "G'ma, your house always seems like HOME!'

Share yours!

You know someone told me once, Sage, she is the only mother you will ever have, and you cannot remake her...find the best in her and celebrate that, rather than the 'bad things'..

Wise person

@Oh Katie..you need to cut and paste that tribute! Bless you AND your Mom!

ndnquah - I am laughing because my youngest daughter has taught her daughter the same thing!

@Lacey G - GREAT advice!

@Missy - I did the same thing with my kids...didn't want them to feel beholden about 'sacrifices' and just taught them how to stand on their own.

Heading off line for the night...will check back tomorrow [7 pm ]

@hosanna - as I said in the beginning of this question, yes, I know all did not have nuturing mothers...even I...which is why I posted this question...for one can always learn something that makes US a better person - even from the those who misuse or abuse us. Stay positive and know you are special!

To all others..would love now to answer each of you...I had no idea so many would answer! Thanks so much for such heart warming and some heart aching replies! Much love this holiday season!

Answer 1

The most valuable thing my mother taught me was to tell my children every day that I loved them and that I was proud of them. She didn't teach me this because she did it with me.......no, she taught me this because she NEVER told these things to me!

Answer 2

I wish my oldest daughter had your attitude. We werent a military family, but we moved around a lot. My mother did the same thing yours did. No matter where the place was,it was always home with her little touches. I watched my mother as strangers would talk to her everywhere. She would always listen and as a kid I hated that. Now I see how important it can be to people you may never see again. I ended up being a nurse who sat and listened to people. I tried to use the same, kind ear my mother had. I saved notes that patients wrote,saying how much they appreciated the compassion. I like to think my mother would be smiling if she were still alive. If you get a chance,give your Mom a hug for me and tell her thank you for raising such a good daughter.

Answer 3

I learned that no matter how poor we were, because of my mother's optimistic,loving,uplifting,God fearing nature,we
never felt like it, or for that matter really knew it. we always had laughter,learned to help others and our selves. We were taught to be self sufficient and how to share what we had with less fortunate people, because we didn't know it then, but no matter how little you have there is always someone that has less, or is in a worse situation.

There was always open affection hugs,lots of hard work around the house and outside jobs too. We lived in a poor neighborhood, but because everyone helped their neighbor
back then we, didn't know that either. We learned Sunday school lessons, and about baby Jesus when we were small
and about the devil when we were bad(smile)!

My mother was a totally amazing person that made all seven of us feel special and greatly loved. I have tried to instill her teachings and values in my children and grandchildren.
One of the best things she taught us was how to cook, with hardly any of the normal ingredients that went in the dish we prepared, but it still turned out delicious. The boys in my family learned too and how to clean do their laundry, iron, the whole nine yards, which their wives are grateful for to this day (smile)!

Answer 4

My mother taught me that being loving and compassionate doesn't mean you can't be strong.My mom has always been a very lovey-dovey kind of person, always hugging, kissing, never a conversation ended without saying 'I love you', but she's also shown great strength in the face of hardships. When my father died she was left with 2 daughters, a dog, and a house to care for all on her own, but that didn't stop her from working hard, continuining in school (and graduation top of her class with honors!), and doing a hell of a job raising my sister and I. My mom hasn't been given the fairest deal in life but she's overcome every piece of bad fortune she's been handed, all while showing my sister and I just how much she loves us. Out of all the lessons she's taught me over the years, the most valuable is strength and compassion.

Answer 5

Mom taught us how to survive and thrive, even in the face of tragedy. My dad was killed in an accident when I was 3 and my sister was 11 mts old. Mom was a 23 yr old widow with 2 small kids to care for. While working as a nurse helping others she gave us everything we needed and some of the things we just wanted. She took us to church in the lovely clothes which she made for us. She canned food from the garden and made applesauce from the apples on our tree and cooked wonderful meals. While doing all of this she also often visited her grandparents-who raised her, and did whatever they needed done and took them wherever they needed to go. She was honest, hard working, independent and always there for those who needed her. She was strict, yet loved us. To this day she always tells me she loves me at the end of every conversation.

Answer 6

i was taught independence. My mom never really sacrificed anything for us. She always said, "I have neveer sacrificed anything for you guys, all i have done is work hard to have the things we have, so dont ever feel like you have to sacrifice anything for me."
She taught me that if you want something in life, you have to work hard for it becuase things are not just handed.
She also taught me that the decisions i make will affect me and only me so think wise about my choices.
When i was young my mom was always workin and going to school to better herself. I live with a single parent and my dad didnt provide with any financial support. Not to mention, i lived in the "ghetto" sode of O.C.. Everything i did, i learned on my own. I would wake up at 5am to go to a near by laundrymat and do my laundry. i had to cook my own food. i woke up and idd things on my own on a daily basis and kept myself out of trouble.
I am a very outspoken person and i stand up for my beliefs. Now a days, i always hear people saying.. "Wow, you have your head set on ur shoulders!" and i gotta thank my mom for that because if she would have sat there and done stuff for me, i wouldnt be the independent straight foward person i am today. Seeking nothing more than success and a better life.

Answer 7

This may sound crazy but she always told me from the time that I was old enough to understand that "it only takes one time". What she was getting at was it only takes one time to sleep with someone to get pregnant.She wanted me to learn to have respect for myself and not to jump in the sack with someone just because I thought that I loved them. She taught me to be very modest at the same time. I never slept with any one until the day that I got married. I am still very modest and still respect my self to this day. I have been divorced for several years now, but it was not because of the way that I was raised, it was because I caught my husband cheating on me. Which was another thing that my mom taught me, never to cheat.

Answer 8

My mom was a women's libber long before women's lib. She was born in 1903. She taught me to always have some job skill so I could make a living if needed. She taught me to always save a little bit of money in case of emergency. "Even if it's only a nickel, it's something." She told me to know how to do the family check book and to know about family finances. "Even if you have a good man, something could happen and you might need to know these things."

Answer 9

Always put on a pair of clean underwear each day. You will never know when you may end up in an Emergency room. She was an RN.

Answer 10

The only person in life you can depend on is yourself. Respect other people. Stand on your own two feet. Don't be a doormat. I learned this by watching her do the opposite.