Dear mom,
It wasn’t until I became a mom myself that I truly understood what you went through when I was first born. I admit that as I grew up there were many times that I took for granted the many daily sacrifices you made without fail.
You went back to work when I was only two months old because dad was out of a job. That took tremendous courage and strength. You stayed up with me all night as I projectile vomited across the room and then put a smile on your face the next day for a classroom full of other people’s children. You loved me, encouraged me, and supported me through the most difficult times of my life. It is no wonder you have always been everyone’s favorite teacher, principal, and now university professor. You are so wise.
This mother’s day I want to take a moment to honor the advice you have passed down to me:
5 Life Lessons I Learned From My Mom
1. “If you don’t love it, leave it”:
2. Laugh at Yourself
3. Family First
4. Everyone Has a Story to Tell
5. The Power of an Optimistic Spirit
6. Stress is Simply the Absence of a Plan

I love #6. You have a very wise mother. This was a sweet experience to read this. Thank you for lightening my night. 🙂
Thank you so much!
This is wonderful! she has definitely taught you some great lessons. I love the poncho one 🙂
Great words of wisdom from you mom!! I love #6! I'm going to remember that.
I love these lessons! They are so sweet and inspirational. Moms are always the best with those kinds of things!
Thanks – she's known for her ponchos. I think she has over twenty in her closet! But I love it 🙂
Wise words 🙂 I try to live by them as much as possible!
Those are some great words of advice. Especially the last one. When I'm stressed, just make a plan. So perfect.
Being a teacher myself, I appreciate the lessons teachers like your mom brought into the classroom. It's people like her that inspired me to become one. Thank you for sharing!
Love it! Such a sweet post and such great advice. Moms know best 🙂
That's awesome Ivy! I'm a teacher myself – learned from the best! 🙂
Such a sweet post, and really great lessons that we should all learn!
Your Mom has some great wisdom. #6 is my favorite.
Aw, i love these. I’ve learned so many great things from my mom and I find more and more things each year that I get older
If you don’t love it, leave it is such a powerful phrase! I absolutely believe this. My mother didnt give the that nugget of wisdom but she instilled a lot of things in me that I equally cherish! I love the post 🙂
This was a very sweet post. I hope you sent your mom the link, if you haven’t told her this stuff already.
Love this list and #6 is definitely something I am quickly learning. With 2 little ones, I have to plan out everything so even if things don’t go as planned, I get less stressed out knowing that I can stay a little flexible. You mom is so wise 🙂
-Linh
My mother and I don’t see eye to eye most of the time, but I do realize how much she has done for me. There’s some things she’s taught me that she didn’t even realize she taught me and I’ve just learned by observing her. A lot of her mistakes have been learning lessons for me and she also has some qualities about her that I really admire that have helped mold me as a person. The fact that she even raised me…. I just have to give her a kudos because I know I was difficult sometimes. Thanks for sharing your post with us!
I had a working mom who somehow seemed to be able to do it all. Your post brought back a lot of sweet memories!
Wow. “Stress is simply the absence of a plan.” That’s brilliant! That will definitely stick with me. This is such a great post, what a nice tribute to your mom!
I’ve never heard #6 before and I love that. So true and such a calming way to think when you’re stressed. It makes me stop and think of my next step.
I love the poncho lol so many good points!! I sometimes hate that the stress is a lack of planning, but it usually is. Mom does know best!
This is just so precious! You have an incredible mother. Mothers are truly irreplaceable, I don’t know how I would survive sans mine.
Love #1 & #5 especially! What an awesome bond, happy Mother’s day to you both!
this is a beautiful post! i love all of these but especially #4. “everybody has a story to tell” is definitely something i try to remember often.
Your mother sounds like a very wise woman! Great tips 🙂
Your mother was a wise woman, and she taught you some great lessons.
Happy Mother’s Day to you and your Mom! I loves these pearls of wisdom. Ill be pondering #6 for a while because it makes so much sense!!
My mom is always making sure I’m not taking myself too seriously. I go to her about everything. Since she adopted my brother and I when we were older, she never had the newborn experience, but it hasn’t stopped her from holding my hand and being there to give me advice along the way. I freaking love my mom and I love this post. Happy Mother’s Day.
“If you don’t love it, leave it.” This is such awesome advice and could apply to anything from a toxic relationship to an expensive sweater you’re on the fence about buying. It’s a question I plan on asking myself more often: “do you love it.” I love this post!
Thanks so much Jill – that is definitely one of my faves as well!
Awe. I love all of these. Your mom is a smart lady, and she did a great job passing her lessons to you.
Love all of these! Such great reminders that we could use everyday!
I love this post! Definitely about the laughing at yourself part. We’re going to falter, make mistakes, it’s all a learning process, and it’s just best to laugh it off and move on!
Just love this post! And it’s true moms can be so wise in their words and actions.