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 My mother taught me so many different things and is the inspiration behind much of what I do. For Mother’s Day, I thought I would share a few of the things I learned from my mom:
• It never hurts to ask, the worst they can say is NO – this rule can apply to so many situations but my most vivid memory is when I got a new job offer, just recently out of college. I was thrilled with the salary IBM offered but my mom told me to ask for a little bit more. “What’s the worst that can happen”? I recall being extremely nervous but she helped me find the courage to ask the hiring manager and it worked! A second example, from my mother’s life, is that as a young mother, without a college degree, my Grandfather helped her secure a job as a directory assistance operator with Bell Telephone (anyone remember 555-1212?). Over the years, she continually asked for promotions to positions, for which some may have said she was unqualified. If the answer was no, she worked harder and asked again. She achieved a fairly senior level of management this way.
• If you want something, you better be willing to pay for it – as a single mother, my mom couldn’t afford to buy us frivolous things. She was solely responsible for the mortgage, utilities and food for three people and that was enough. We did our shopping at discount stores and if we wanted something out of the ordinary (e.g., stone-washed jeans, from Jean Country!), we had to agree to a payment plan with our mother. I remember frequently coming home to an IOU on the steps, leading up to our bedrooms. I can’t say I appreciated it, at the time, but the value that lesson has brought to my life is beyond measure. My brother and I both starting working at the age of thirteen.
• Share the Wealth – throughout our lives my mother had us involved in charitable activities. For the holidays, we put together stockings/gifts for children who didn’t have as much. She also took us into the city, where we volunteered preparing food for the homeless, at a shelter. In addition, in later years, when my brother and I were in the late teen and college years, my mother moved into a status at work which qualified her for an annual bonus. Each time she got a bonus at work, she would cut us each a check for spending/saving of our choice. These acts taught me that giving actually feels better than receiving. It gave me a deeper perspective and I try to incorporate similar practices in my own life today.
My Mother taught me to be strong & independent, as a woman. I could never thank her enough for the life lessons. She used tools (some conscious, others not) with us, as children, to prepare us for the real world ahead. She led by example and showed that a strong work ethic can produce results. I love you, Mom! Thanks!
A Very Happy Mother’s Day to ALL mothers everywhere! I hope you have a spectacular day!
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