5 Lessons I Learned from My Mother

With Mother’s Day this Sunday, I thought I’d have a little homage to my mummy and share some of the things that she’s taught me. She is one of best people I know and I’m not just saying that, most people who know her agree that she’s pretty amazing. My dad and I joke about how she gets Mother’s Day cards from several different people but I’m an only child.

She’s shaped my life and that of several others with these values so just keep reading for five important life lessons I learned from my mom!

Family First

One of the biggest, most important lessons I’ve learned from my mom is that family is always number one. Our extended family is closer than most, I’ve come to realize, even though we live in all corners of the globe. With everyone so scattered, it takes time and effort to stay engaged but it’s worth it because at the end of the day, family are the one you can most readily rely on.

I have memories of my mom talking on the phone for hours on end with her mom or her sisters, then it became Skype calls with everyone, and now we’re all on WhatsApp. But all the reminders of “call your grandma” or “don’t forget to write a letter to your aunt” were worth it because family comes first.

Lipstick is All You Need

I recently shared on Instagram that I got my love of lipstick from my mom. As far back as I can remember, she’s never worn any makeup other than tinted moisturizer and red (and sometimes pink) lipstick. Without a mask of creams and powders, you look like yourself but that touch of lipstick adds a bit of color and dimension to make you look alive!

Side story: Once at a dinner, one of my girlfriends remarked on how, after the meal was over, my mom and three of her sister all reached into their purses and reapplied red lipstick. Apparently it runs in the family!

How You Dress Matters

When all the other girls were wearing tank tops that showed their bra straps and teeny tiny mini skirt, I wanted to do the same. Not following trends in middle/high school is social suicide, right? Well my mom put a stop to that REAL quick! At the time, I found it annoying not being allowed to follow the trends of the time but looking back, I’m so glad I didn’t. Not only was it tacky and dated but it isn’t reflective of the person I am (or was at the time). Why would you ever dress like someone you’re not?

She taught me that how we dress sends the world a message about you. It’s part of the first impression we get about people when we meet them. Having your nails done and your clothes ironed are all part of the package of presenting yourself with your best foot forwards. Like I’ve said before, how we dress is a billboard where we are advertising ourselves. Now you know where I got that one from.

An Education Can Never be Taken From You

Unlike most American kids, I didn’t go straight to college after high school. All I wanted to do growing up was dance ballet, so at the age of 18 less than a week after I graduated high school, I was on a plane to NYC to dance ballet professionally. However, I still had to apply to various universities and pick one I would someday attend. This is because of my mom.

Both she and my dad made sure I got a great education because they share the sentiment that education is priceless. It sets you apart in a crowd and can make you just that much more hirable in the working world.

All while I was dancing she would always encourage me to enroll in a community college course or a writing class or a French speaking group just so I’d always be learning and working towards greater educational goals.

It’s Easy to Be Kind

One of the things you have to realize about my mom is that she is one of those people just about everybody likes. She’s charming, chatty, and memorable but one of the things that I think really make people love her is just how thoughtful, giving, and kind she is.

By watching her interact with other people my whole life, it’s become apparent to me how easy it is to be kind. It’s in the small gestures when you ask somebody about their week or kids or workday. It’s easy to give somebody a ride when you’re already going that direction. It’s easy to stop in on a friend or family member to check on how they are doing when it’s on your way home from work. While big gestures are wonderful, it’s easy to be kind in your everyday life with simple small gestures too.