We may never know who coined the old adage, “mummy knows best”, but there’s no denying the truth in those words. No two moms are the same, but every mum is tasked with teaching their kids the basics of life. In doing so they share some of the most important life lessons with their children. And those lessons are absolutely invaluable. I don’t know where I would be in life without the wise words, and guidance I received from my mother. Truth be told, I don’t care to know. What I do know is that mums have a unique ability to educate their kids and impart wisdom in a way that no one else can. We took the time to reflect on the life lessons that mums everywhere are teaching their kids, and we’ve come up with 10 Valuable Life Lessons Only a Mother can Teach:
1. Find the silver lining
Everyone at some point in their lives will face a situation that seems less than stellar. A mum has the innate ability to help her kids to look past the gloominess and negativity and find the silver lining. At an early age, my mum taught me to search for the positive aspects in anything I do, and I’ve been a better person ever since. Mums everywhere help make the world a brighter place, and they teach their kids to do the same through positivity and a “glass half-full” demeanour.
2. Value of hard work
It goes without saying that mums are some of the hardest working people you’ll ever know. In seeing just how much work it is for a mum to rear a child, we learn valuable life lessons about hard work. My mother always worked hard for everything she got in life, and she was never afraid to share her journey. In the end, it helped teach me the value of hard work and dedication. Mums do the same for their kids, and the result is children with a good work ethic and passion for whatever it is they want to do. Thanks, mums!
3. Consequences of our actions
We all make mistakes, but good mothers make sure we learn from those mistakes. Only a mum can teach her children that every action has a consequence, and no matter what, we have to own up to the results. Remember that feeling of disappointment you felt when you let mum down? No doubt that you tried your hardest to make sure you never made her feel that way again. That’s just an example of the impact your mum had on you, and how you learned the error of your ways through the consequences of your actions.
4. The basics of proper behaviour
There’s a pretty big stereotype supporting the idea that dads (as guys) are the “grosser” of the two parents. That might not be true, because most fathers are rather gentlemanly, but there’s no doubt that mum taught you the basics of proper behaviour. When I was a young man, my mum was particularly strict when it came to my behaviour. Stop me if you heard these valuable lessons: Don’t chew with your mouth open, no burping, hold the door open, cover your mouth when you cough, etc.
Mums have a way of teaching their kids the nuances of proper etiquette. Who knows what disgusting things I’d be doing if my mum wasn’t around to teach me how to behave properly.
5. Never be jealous of others
Jealousy is a very basic feeling that we must learn to deal with. Luckily, mum is around to teach us that we needn’t ever be jealous. Mums teach us to be thankful for everything that we have and that jealousy is a trivial feeling. Whether it was a brand new toy that our fellow first-grader received for his birthday or the new car our neighbour just purchased, mums will always be there to remind you that you’re right where you need to be and that envy is ignorance.
6. Use logic to solve your problems
While it’s nice to think we have mums as our support beams or crutch they can’t always help you. Not that they don’t want to, but they need to let their kids grow. Only a mum can teach you to use logic to solve your own problems. When I was a kid, my mum used to say “use your noodle” to encourage me to figure things out on my own, and as a result, I developed better problem-solving skills. Mums know that if they allow us to think logically and resolve our own issues, then we’ll be better, stronger people for it.
7. Importance of willpower
Perseverance is a powerful tool. The ability to get back on the horse and try again is something that mums have been teaching their kids since the dawn of time. mums are strong-willed people with incredible leadership skills and their children learn from them every day. How? They lead by example. Children learn about the value of determination by watching their mums work hard, day in and day out. As a result, kids grow up with the resolve to push through and conquer adversity.
8. Embrace the future
No one likes change. Not even mums. That doesn’t stop them from preparing their kids for the next challenge down the road. Only a great mum can rear her child and lead them to be the best person they can be. Mums help us to embrace the future and to never be afraid of it. Whatever comes next in your life, there’s no doubt that your mum has taught you that you can handle it with ease.
9. How to love and respect others
Mums are masters in teaching their children how to love and respect others! Maybe it’s because they have so much love to give, or maybe it’s because they know it’s such an incredible life lesson. Either way, the world is a better place because of the lessons mums teach their kids about loving and respecting others. Mums teach us the value of sensitivity, understanding, and how to care for someone other than ourself.
10. Believe in yourself
Sure, it’s easy to over-inflate a kid’s ego or self-esteem, but that’s not what moms do. They simply encourage us to be the best we can be and to always believe in ourselves. Only mums can teach us that if we put our minds to it, we can achieve anything that we want. They teach us to set goals, and never underestimate what we can do if we truly believe in ourselves.
If you have any insights, questions or comments regarding the topic, please share them with us!