Tag Archives: Things she taught me

Things My Mother Taught Me

What sort of daughter would I be if I didn’t write about how amazing my Mom is on Mother’s Day? It goes without saying that my Mom is the most amazing woman in the World – she’s transformed my life in numerous ways and has taught me more than I can remember. I have always been called a “Daddy’s Girl” but the fact of the matter is that I am my Mother’s Daughter through and through.

This post is dedicated to 21 of the millions of lessons my mother has instilled in me.

  1. Take lots of pictures – The name of this blog is titled after my mom’s advice when I was handed a camera when I turned 8 at Disney World. “Snap away Meg, capture the memories”. This sentiment has truly stayed with me, whether it is via snapchat or with my Canon.
  2. Home is where the heart is – Moving around as a kid was like one 15 year-long adventure. Kudos to my Mom for packing up the house (by herself on more than one occasion) and bravely moving us around with a smile on her face. We have a sign in our house that reads, “Home is where the Navy Sends You”, but she taught me that it’s not where you live that matters, but where your family and heart is.
  3. Family First – This is pretty self-explanatory but she has reiterated numerous times that your family always comes first. No exceptions.
  4. Making friends is a hobby – I distinctly remember my mom telling me that making friends was her favorite hobby when I was 9 years old and living in Japan. I really didn’t quite understand this because sports were my favorite hobby. As I’ve grown up and (hopefully) matured, I’ve come to embody that same sentiment. I love making friends more than anything!
  5. Is it a want or is it a need? – Every time I go shopping, my Mom’s voice rings in the back of my head, “Is it a want or a need?” I am not very good with spending money (or rather saving it) so this is something that I hope I will get better with as time passes.
  6. Never quit – I have on more than one occasion wanted to quit a team or drop a class, but my mother has always told me that Patten’s never quit. To this day, I have always finished out the season or completed the class. You feel so much better knowing you stuck with it.
  7. Handwritten thank you notes never go out of style – I always dreaded writing thank you notes as a kid, but as I’ve grown up, I have realized the value of writing somebody a quick note, no matter how small or insignificant the task. It takes five minutes and gives you an excuse to get cute stationary.
  8. Put your phone down – We have No-Phones at the table policy, but this has extended into other social gatherings. I have learned that you learn so much more about a person when you’re 100% focused on them and not your boring virtual conversation.
  9. Leave your judgments at the door – Don’t judge a person until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes. My mom taught me that everybody comes from different circumstances and backgrounds and it’s rude to judge them for their decisions.
  10. Sunscreen. Sunscreen. Sunscreen. – My mother is a skin cancer survivor and has instilled in my sister and I an obligation to our skin. Though this took me longer to put into actions, I now put on SPF everyday before I head out the door.
  11. It’s 5 O’Clock somewhere – My mom not only taught me that it’s acceptable to have a beer at 5, but that as a girl, it’s totally okay to love beer. She taught me to make jello shots at a young age for the parties we hosted and that a glass of wine on top of Iron Mountain with your girlfriends will solve most of the problems coming your way.
  12. It’s okay to have feelings and be sensitive – My mom used to (and still does) call me Ajax for my abrasive personality, but what I have learned from this is that it is okay to have feelings and wear them on my sleeve.
  13. A clean house is a happy house – I could never understand why my mom cleaned so much before parties and required us to keep clean rooms until I moved into my own place and lived with people who have no sense of cleanliness.
  14. It’s okay to ask for help – My mom always is there for me and has taught me, despite my extreme stubbornness that it is more than okay to ask for help. It is not a sign of weakness, rather a sign of strength to admit that you need help.
  15. Remind people that you love them – I carry around a note in my wallet from 9th grade that my Mom put in my lunch saying I love you. It’s these little notes and random texts that make the best feeling in the world.
  16. Be patient – Patience is not one of my strong suits and my family has tested my patience on more than one occasion, and definitely on purpose multiple times. My mom has always preached to me that patience is one of the best qualities you can practice.
  17. Don’t grow up to fast. It’s okay to act your age – You know that movie ’13 Going on 30′ – that was me for a large portion of my childhood. I always sought more responsibilities, more freedom, more fun, but what I lost were those crazy moments spent with kids my own age.
  18. Do what you love, love what you do – This should be self-explanatory, but my mom simply lives by this rule. She’s a stay at home mom that does cooler things than I do. Honestly, I’m jealous!
  19. Pick up the phone and call –  I used to be petrified of picking up the phone and calling anybody, but now calling people is one of my favorite things to do. I always remember listening to my mom call friends and family from around the world to catch up. Nothing replaces organic conversation.
  20. Life is short. Cherish each and every moment. – My mom’s mom died at a super young age and my mom has always reiterated that life is short. You never know what moments you’ll be laughing at 20 years from now so cherish the memories now.
  21. Be Yourself – My mom has taught me that above all, being yourself and staying true to your identity, whatever it may be, is the most important thing of all.

Mom – thank you for the memories, the wonderful days spent together, and the many life lessons. I can only hope to be as amazing as you when I finally grow up.