10 Things My Mother Taught Me

Snapshot of my mom and I at my wedding reception!

1. Try not to judge - you never know what brought that person to the circumstances they are in.

I think about this almost daily, every time a homeless person walks up to my window at a stoplight. No, I don't give them money every time, but a smile and a quick prayer for that person goes a long way. Do you think anyone really grows up intending to be homeless one day? I think not. Everyone has a story that got them there. The same goes for the woman using food stamps in front of you in the grocery store. Do you think that's her dream life? The list goes on and on...

2. Mean people need the most love - they act the way they do because they don't feel enough of it.
 

I'm SO dealing with one of these right now. Kill em with kindness, because they clearly don't  know what that is or how to show it.

3. You only get one reputation. Don't screw it up.

If only I had a dollar for every time I heard this growing up...but I didn't screw it up, and it makes me really sad to look around and see younger teenage girls (and even my own classmates and attorneys) who are making mistakes and bad choices that will stick with them for life.

4. You have my trust until you lose it. 

I think I was the only person in my high school who never had a curfew. My mom didn't care if I was at a friend's house until 3 am, as long as she knew where I was, and when I was on my way home. With that being said, I had a fantastic group of friends, she knew we weren't troublemakers, and she will tell you that she chose to "pick her battles" raising teenagers. Our favorite hangout was a coffee shop for crying out loud. And so we operated under this understanding. I know that all children are different, and it may not work for everyone, but it worked for us. She knew that I had enough respect for myself to trust me,

5. You will make sacrifices for your children that you never dreamed you would make for anyone.

I don't have my own children yet, so I don't have any first-hand experiences, but seeing some of the sacrifices that my mom made for my brother and I, I know it's true.

6. Money and status won't help you when you're six-feet under.

She normally reminds me of this when I call her on my way home from work at 8 pm or later, upset about the amount of work and stress I have with law school, life in general, and this massive trial that I've been working every single weekend on. And then she tells me that I'm going to get tired and I'm going to burn out and I'm going to get sick. And then I normally do. So I'm working on taking myself less seriously :) It's just a tough balance to strike when I know that this trial will determine the rest of the way this client lives this rest of his life, literally, and when I know that my grades and extra-curricular activities now will have a direct effect on the job that I get one day.

7. The power of a good bargain or sale! Coupons are like free money...use them!

My brother used to joke when we were younger that "Mom must have had a coupon today!" whenever there was something in the pantry that we didn't normally buy. But let me tell you, I have taken her sale-shopping and bargain power to heart, and it has saved me a LOT of money! In fact, she tells me now that I find better deals than she can!

8. Have respect for yourself, and others will too. 

It's true, and so is the contrary!

9. Everything, everything, everything happens for a reason, even if we don't see it at the time.

I seriously can't even go into the times that this mom-ism has proven true because there are too many times to count. So...I try to remind myself of this every time I'm upset that something has not gone according to plan :) Because ya'll do know how I love to plan.

10. You can do whatever you put your mind to.

Some days this is the only thought that gets me through. But it does :)

 I'm linking this post up with Kat's Writer's Workshop today! Head over next Thursday to pick a topic and link up with us!