Things my mother taught me… words that I have been hesitant to write about. My mother was an amazing woman and mother. She did a wonderful job (alongside my dad) until I went off to college, then our relationship started to change. We slowly shifted from a mother-daughter relationship to a mother-daughter friendship. Of course, she was always my mother first, but the addition of friendship was fantastic.
Unfortunately, right after I got engaged, she unexpectedly passed away… hence the hesitation to write an article about her. Though I’m finally beginning to feel that there has been enough healing to write about my mother… my best friend, I still struggle with my loss. At the same time, I want to celebrate her. So here’s to you Mom… Things My Mother Taught Me!
Life is too short to stay angry, mad, sad, or unhappy
Of course, it’s okay to feel these emotions, it’s just not worth getting stuck on them. She always said life is too short to waste it and not enjoy it! So, make amends, cry and let it out, write it down, then let it all go!
Life is too much fun to waste it on alcohol or drugs
My mother was never a drinker nor did she ever do drugs. She always enjoyed her life and said she didn’t want to miss it or not remember it because she was intoxicated. So, skip the alcohol and drugs and go have some fun. Of course, that is not to say she didn’t enjoy a nice cold margarita every now and then.
Take care of your obligations
Pay your debts on time and take care of your responsibilities. She said that if you couldn’t be responsible for yourself, you would never be able to take care of yourself, let alone anyone else, and would always struggle in life.
Modesty
You should always be modest, which doesn’t mean you can’t be fashionable. It just means you’re advertising your style, not your body.
Saving yourself for marriage
Why buy the cow, when you can get the milk for free? A statement I heard literally from the time I learned about the birds and the bees well into adulthood. Though not the most elegant statement, my mother felt very strongly about it. She said that living together and having intimate relationships with your partner was meant for after the I do’s, not before. She also said every time you are intimate with someone you give a small piece of yourself to them that you will never get back. A lot of this didn’t make sense to me at the time, but now that I am a married woman with children, I FINALLY GET IT! Thank you mom!
Marriage and children are life’s most precious gifts
My parents would have been married 55 years if she had made it to their anniversary the year she passed away. She always said that marriage and children are the toughest jobs you can ever have in life, but the benefits far outweigh the hard work. She said to always make sure your husband is your best friend. Always love him… though you don’t always have to like him. And teach your children to have loving relationships with family and friends.
Take care of your family… always say I love you!
Don’t forget to show your husband and children that you love them. Take care of them, nurture them, and don’t forget to snuggle, cuddle, and kiss them. Make sure to say I love you frequently and when parting… you never know when it will be your last time to say it.
Take pride in homemaking… it is a life skill
Have a clean and tidy home and keep it and your family organized. It will allow you to enjoy life more and be less stressed. I definitely have not perfected this one!
Don’t lie
This was very black and white in our house growing up. Lying just causes more problems than the truth ever will cause. So don’t do it. That’s not to say telling the truth is always easy or there won’t be consequences for your actions… she just thought it was easier than trying to make up a lie, make it believable, and then keep the lie (or lies, because one lie is never enough) up.
Be kind… even to those that are not kind to you
It doesn’t matter how others act; it only matters how you act. Life is rarely fair and you have no idea what storm God has asked someone else to walk through… so be kind.
Follow your dreams
Dreams are part of making life tons of fun. The desire to accomplish something or do something you enjoy is a wonderful thing and it builds character.
Always say your prayers and give thanks to God for all of your blessings!
I don’t think an explanation is required here 😉
Alright ladies and gentlemen, thank you for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed my challenging, but rewarding post today. Please feel free to leave a comment and let me know things your mother taught you. Happy Tuesday!
Cheers,
Lisa
