A mother's best advice

A special lesson
My mother always taught me to be compassionate and understanding to people who were mentally or physically disabled.  She taught me not to laugh or make fun of others who were less fortunate.  I remember once in Sunday School, a little girl (who looked very 'different' -- She was very pale and wore glasses that weren't very pretty to me, but I didn't tell her that!) wanted me to draw a bird for her in her lesson book.  We all had to draw a picture and she didn't know how to draw a bird "like mine." The other children wouldn't play with her much, but my cousin and I sat on either side of her. I drew a bird in her book and the next week, she didn't come back to Sunday School. My mother told me that my special friend had been very sick with her heart since birth and had died that week. I didn't say much, but I was very sad. I have never forgotten that in 50 years and I have always been glad I drew that bird for her. A little thing to do, but that drawing I did as a six year old was and is still very important to me and a good reminder regarding the little things in life being important. I never told my mother that story; but she is 82 now and I'm going to tell her that for Mother's Day. I think it will make her happy to know it!
--Brenda Gail Foster, Brandon, Miss.

Listen to your head
When I was pregnant with my first child, my mother told me that I would get all kinds of advice from all kinds of people. She said, "Listen kindly, but make your own decisions.  Don't let anyone tell you what's best.  You'll figure that out on your own. If you don't know what to do, ask someone whose had experience."  As my pregnancy progressed, I found that I heard every horror story and every remedy and every "great tip" from well meaning people. Even strangers. But, my mother's advice was still the best. I've shared that advice with friends and co-workers since then, and they've always been grateful. It's nice to have reassurance that you can trust your instincts and don't have to feel guilty about not following another person's suggestion.
--Renee Engdahl, Camano Island, Wash.

Look past looks
My Mother's best advice was this: do not marry for looks, looks will fade over the years, and it's the personality you are left with. How true that has turned out to be!
--Nicole Schell, Durant, Okla.

Attitude is everything
"You do what you have to do". My mom had a busy and hectic life raising two daughters and working at the same time. My father was in the Navy so he was gone a lot. Times would get hard and mom would just say that phrase. I remember her going to the plumbing store to get directions on how to fix the toilet or to the automotive store for advise. Sometimes you have to make tough decisions or do things you don't like but your attitude determines how well you make it through the hard times. That was a lesson she taught both my sister and I. You do what you have to do (and just rock on).
--Tammie Andrews. Fort Worth, Texas

Come on in
My mother taught me that when it comes to men, "You are nobody's woman, you are a young lady who dates." We weren't allowed to take gifts from boys during the teen years. The only exception was a birthday or Christmas and it had to be modest, something that an average weekly allowance could afford. Boys weren't allowed to blow their car horns and we come running out, they had to come to our door and greet our parents. If one dared to blow, my mother would respond, "This isn't a pickup/livery service there are no packages or property here. Either move it on in here or move on!" 
--Mary Moore, Chicago, Ill.

Communication is key
My mother was an English teacher.  This was in the late 60's, early 70's. A lot of mothers will still stay at home mothers. We were "latch key" kids before there ever was such a phrase. My mother worked hard and was an excellent teacher. Education was important.  She taught my sister and I to be independent and to speak and write proper English.  She said, "A person who can grasp the proper way to speak and write will always have doors opened to them, that would otherwise be shut."
My mother used to read to me at night. Because of that, I love to read and read to my daughter at night. She was always there of us girls and we knew we were loved. Mom loved to sew and bake cookies at Christmas, my sister and I have passed those loves onto our children.  Passing on our mother's joys and love is important, my mother now has Alzheimer's and with each passing year the mother we knew is fading.  Passing on these loves and joys means that our mother will always be with us.
--Sarah Barker, Atlanta, Ga.

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