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Rochester Local

The Best Mom Advice I’ve Received


I, like the majority of Moms have received tons of advice, both solicited and unsolicited. I once had a complete stranger at Target give me advice for 15 minutes straight! It actually turned out to be quite hilarious; giving me lessons on everything from teething to how to get what you want from your man. Haha!

While receiving advice can be a bit of an eye roll, I believe there is great power in listening and learning from others. You know it’s advice worth considering if the words keep repeating over and over in your head.

My Mom said this to me because it was advice she wished she had been given:

Remember you’re creating their childhood memories.

When I heard that, I was struck by how powerful and scary it was. This piece of advice has made me look at myself from their little eyes. How am I responding to them? Am I their grumpy, impatient Mom? Or do they see me as their fun, happy Mom? Will they remember me sitting down and building legos with them? Or will they remember me never having enough time for them? Will they remember the songs we sing in the car? Or will they remember me yelling? Of course there are appropriate times for yelling, and I will never be perfect. But will they remember me owning my mistakes and asking them for forgiveness? Or will they remember me stewing in my anger and regret?

I want them to reminisce about taking turns chasing each other around house, ganging up on Daddy to tickle him, blasting off the bed, making forts, reading the same book over and over, piggy-back rides down to breakfast, counting all the stars from the nightlight, and countless other little things that don’t seem like a big deal when you’re doing them. Those things matter. Even if they can’t recall those things later, they make them into the person they will be one day.

I think this advice is really about being intentional. As overwhelming as that is, I think it comes down to thinking before speaking, praying before reacting, and starting over after screwing up. Giving yourself grace to learn as you go and reflecting back the joy you see in your kids. More than anything I want them to grow up to recall living in a home of laughter, grace, forgiveness, loudness, peacefulness, freedom, and most of all unconditional love.

What’s the best piece of mom advice you received? I would love to hear in the comments.

This post was originally published in December 2015.

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