Be Good

“When all is said and done, the only thing that matters is the way you treat people. That’s what people will remember about you.” These words from my mom really help to keep things in perspective.
Amy Bouck
San Diego, California

When we were growing up, whenever one of the eight of us left the house, my mom would always give us a kiss and a hug and tell us to “be good, and remember who you are.” I kept this statement with me, and it really helped me to stand up for my beliefs, trust in myself, and remember the values I was taught by my parents.
Rebecca Bristol
De Pere, Wisconsin

I will always remember what my mother told me as I was growing up: “Whenever you are feeling down or sorry for yourself, the best thing to do is something for someone else.” It truly forces you to take your eyes off your own problems and gives you a new outlook on life.
Cheryl Balcom
Schoolcraft, Michigan

My Irish grandmother passed this advice down to my mother, who passed it down to me: “There’s always room for one more. We can water the soup.” She believed that we should welcome anyone who came to our home and share whatever we had at our table.
Kathleen Conway
Cambria, California

Man Handling

When I first started dating, Mom told me this: Notice how your guy treats his mother. He should be thoughtful and treat her with kindness and respect. That is how he will treat a woman. If he treats her badly at all, don’t walk away from him — run!
Nanci Davis
St. Louis, Missouri

At my bridal shower, Mom said, “Wear an apron when you cook dinner. Only an apron!”
Kriste Hildahl
Grandview, Washington

My mother has always told me, “Men are just dessert!” Mom instilled in me the idea that men should add to your life, not become your life.
Sarah Holland
Washington, D.C.

“There are many men worth staying single for.”
Aralynn Vinande
Grosse Pointe, Michigan

My newly single mother was suddenly forced to handle all our home repairs. "You can’t be poor and stupid at the same time," she said. We learned everything about painting, plumbing, lawn care — you name it.
Marcy Hatch
Powell, Tennessee

Watch That Attitude

My mother taught me that every morning when you wake up, you have the power to decide whether to be happy or not. Who wouldn’t choose to be happy?
Adria Minevich
Kennesaw, Georgia

My mother always told me to wear something colorful on a dreary day — a red raincoat or a cheerful umbrella. She said color was the key to having a bright, happy attitude. When the weather is gloomy, this lifts my spirits.
Nancy Robitaille
Lee, Massachusetts

“Can’t is a four-letter word.” I will never forget this advice, and I live by it every day. In our house, my two older brothers and I were not allowed to use the C-word, because my mom always taught us that we could do anything we put our minds to. “Can’t” was a way of giving up, which was not acceptable. She encouraged us to stay positive and believe in ourselves.
Kristin Thomas
Seattle, Washington

My mother’s motto is “But we’re cheery!” She invoked her famous phrase whenever things weren’t going as planned. Once, at a dinner party, as she took the roast out of the oven, it slipped and went skidding across the kitchen floor. We looked at each other, and then she shrugged, picked it up, and said, “But we’re cheery!” before serving it to her unknowing guests. This phrase was always our family’s reminder to keep our sense of humor and a positive outlook.
Jocelyn Cortese
Pacific Palisades, California

The Kids Are All Right

Years ago, we were having some problems with our son, and I mentioned this to my mother. Her answer: “Our children usually grow up fine in spite of us.” Those words made me realize that all we can do is give our children the tools to know right from wrong and good from evil, and love them unconditionally.
Fredric Prager
Weston, Florida

I recently gave birth to a baby girl. I was worried about everything from diaper rash to her college tuition. My mother reminded me that raising a child doesn’t happen all at once. She said, “She’s not going to be teething and asking for the car keys at the same time.” This helps me focus on one day at a time.
Karen Bellitto
Freehold, New Jersey

Mirror, Mirror

The best advice from my mother was simply to say “thank you” when given a compliment. When women receive a compliment, she believed, they should not say, “Oh, I do not” or “Yeah, right.” Something so simple really taught me to appreciate myself. Even on a bad-hair day!
Erin Fritz
Mankato, Minnesota

Famous Last Words

My mother’s generation came of age in the 1940s. Women wore dresses, got their hair done, and never left the house without bright red lipstick. As a child of the 1960s, my style could not have been more different. It became a constant, sometimes funny struggle between us. She knew she’d never win, and I knew she’d never give up. Years later, in the last full evening of her life, my mother’s eyes never left my face as I moved quietly around her room. She was surprisingly very alert. Softly, she called my name and motioned for me to come close. Knowing that the end was near, I wondered if she had chosen this moment to tell me a profound truth, or a vision she had had, or even a great secret. As I came to her bedside and gently took her hand, she said to me, “Don’t you think you need a little lipstick?”
Carol Redelheim
Nashville, Tennessee