Lessons Mom Taught Me That I Didn’t Appreciate Until I Got Older

It’s Mother’s Day. A time we reflect and tell our Moms thank you for all that they did for us. This is also the time that we apologize for everything we did to them. (Sorry Mom, I didn’t mean it.😬😂) Growing up, most kids don’t want to listen to their parents. They think they know it all, but once we grow up, we find mom was right most of the time. Here are 10 lessons mom taught me that I didn’t appreciate until I got older.

1. Mom Taught Me To Be Confident In Myself

Mom always taught me to be confident in myself. I understood it, but didn’t really know the significance until I got older. It paid off when I had to present presentations in college, apply for a job I may not have been qualified for and not worry about what others said because of the confidence that I had in myself.

2. It’s Okay To Cry

Mom taught me it’s okay to cry because it helps to show emotion. She taught me I don’t always have to be so strong and that my feelings matter and it’s okay to show them. This has helped me get through some tough times because crying is a good way to release and heal.

3. Be Respectful

I think respect is a lot of what our youth is lacking these days. My mom did not play when it came to respecting her and others. I definitely did not appreciate this life lesson when I was younger. I wanted to do what I wanted to do. But I now see the importance of it and how it made me a better adult. And now I am trying to instill this same lesson in my own daughters. And guess what mom, they want to do what they want to do. 🙃 So here is where I say, “Sorry mom, I did’t mean it.” 😂

4. Try To Look For The Positive

This lesson has taught me that even in my worst situation, there is a silver lining somewhere. It is so easy to focus on all the negativity going on around us, but if we find just a pinch of positivity, we can have hope to keep fighting through the tough situation.

5. She Would Not Allow Me To Date “That” Boy

There was a boy that I was really interested in, or so I thought. I brought him to the house and she told me right away, “No Maam!! You will not get caught up in that.” 😂 And she was right, he was no good! (And probably still no good🤷🏾‍♀️). But if she hadn’t protected me from him, I probably wouldn’t have met my amazing husband. Thanks Mom! 😍

6. Mom Taught Me To Love And Support My Siblings

As kids, we definitely had sibling rivalry, but mom taught us to love and support each other no matter what. This lesson caused us to build the strongest sibling bonds ever. I literally talk to my brother and sister every single day. She always taught us, friends may come and go, but your siblings will be forever. So grateful for this lesson, because my siblings are everything to me. And I am instilling this same lesson in my kids.

7. Taught Me To Never Give Up – Never Quit

This lesson is so valuable. Life will give us plenty of “no’s” and things will definitely get hard, but I am so glad Mom taught me to never give up and never quit. This lesson has been applied through numerous situations in life. There have been situations that I wanted to just give up on and walk away from and mom would tell me, “No, you don’t give up, keep pushing all the way through!” Thanks to her, I have 3 degrees, that I probably would have quit on.

8. Just Because You Fall Doesn’t Mean You Have Failed

Think about learning to ride a bike. We fall thousands of times before we actually get it. Did you hear me, before we actually get it. Mom taught me to get up and keep trying. If I could count how many times I’ve fallen, whew!! But my success in life is due to me realizing I have not failed, even though I have fell.

9. Mom Taught Me To Forgive

You know when this lesson was the most useful for me is when it came to my husband. Ya’ll now marriage is not always glitter and gold. There were times in my marriage where I was like, “Oh, No Sir!!” But because my mom taught me to forgive, I was able to sit and communicate with my husband and forgive him. Oh and he has had to forgive me a few times too. So thanks to both of our moms for teaching us this lesson. 😘

10. Mom Taught Me To Love Myself

I believe this is the most valuable lesson any mother could teach a child. Self love will get us through a lot of tough situations. You will not need to feel validated, no one can tell you who you are and no matter the scrutiny there is enough confidence and self love to keep pushing and be proud of the beautiful person God created you to be. For THIS lesson, I am oh so grateful.

As a child, I didn’t know I needed these lessons, but I am so glad my mom took the time to teach them to me. Even though I didn’t appreciate the lessons until later in life, they have molded me into the person that I am today. So on this Mother’s Day, I would like to tell my mom, “Thank you!” And hopefully years down the road, my children can be just as appreciative of my lessons as I am of yours! I Love You! 💖