Last updated on November 19th, 2023 at 12:23 am
There are a lot of things my Momma has taught me in my life. She is the strongest and most inspiring lady I know. I may be bias as she is my mother but the challenges she has faced raising us and my siblings, mostly on her own, I think she deserves more than a medal. I will continue to thank her and repay her for all she has done for us the rest of my life.
She has taught me to enjoy the simple things in life and that not everything is about money or material things. We grew up with little but we didn’t know that. You don’t notice what you don’t have. I would say we had an amazing childhood and everything we ever wanted. I love that we grew up this way because it taught us so many things. I think It has even made me a better parent because even though we could give my kids more than we had I try not to. At Christmas I still keep the tradition of one big present and mini stocking presents for each child, just how we enjoyed it. I want my kids to grow up appreciating and enjoying things that are given to them. I never want them to expect piles of presents whether it’s for birthday or Christmas because that’s not what celebrating is about. My Momma taught us this maybe not by choice but it has made me appreciate moments more than materials in life. Celebrating was always more about all of us and extended family getting together than what we actual got.
My Mother was a hard worker. There is never a time (still) that she doesn’t have a job and a few projects going on at once as well as the charity and church work she does. She truly is inspirational to get involved in so many great causes. I look up to her so much. It has made me want to volunteer my time and get more involved in local charities where I live. I swear her heart is big than the moon and she always has a place for more people in it.
When we were little and she was raising us on her own she always found a way to get what we needed. She may have racked up debt getting us what we needed whether it was clothes, food or things for school but she taught me to be resourceful too. She was the master at credit card balance transfers. I am not randomly saying this, you can ask her, she paid thousands off in debt by taking advantage of balance transfers to zero percent APR credit cards otherwise interest would have buried her. It was the only way she could get the necessities at the time for her family and herself. She also was great at budgeting and lower her debt when she finally was able to as we got older. She taught me not to splurge for no reason and to think about why I want to buy something whether it was for a want or a need? That’s a very important question that we all should ask ourselves when we buy something. Obviously, her main advice was to keep a budget so you never have to go into major debt but sometimes debt is unavoidable there she would say, “be resourceful”.
My Momma is courageous. She taught me when I want to do something or be somebody to go for it and strive for whatever my heart desires. I love how much she motivates me to follow my own mind and my own heart. I stand up for myself because she taught me to do so. When I came home from Mexico to tell her I was moving across the world to be with my soulmate, she fully supported me without questioning me even though I am sure it broke her heart at the time. I wouldn’t have had the guts to take that leap in faith in love and life, if she hadn’t passed on her courageousness to me. I owe her so much for that one alone and so does my husband.
I always go back to her advice that we don’t need much in life to be happy except each other. Family really is the most important thing in life. I know that all too well living in England as an expat and being restricted on how often I get to see my own family. These summers I spend back home with her, always leave me a little emotional and more aware of how much she does for me, teaches me, and how much I love being home with her. I hope my kids grow up thinking the very same. I try my best to in still the things my Momma taught me into my own kids.
What have your parents taught you? Do you find yourself teaching your children things your own parents taught you? Or opposite? Would love to hear from you below.
*collaborative post
She sounds like an amazing and inspiring lady – and she has some sound advice too! Lucky you to have her as a Momma!! My parents taught me that there was nothing I shouldn’t strive for if I was prepared to work for it and that being happy and content was more important than having flashy stuff, and they’re both lessons I try to pass on to my three
She is always full of advice too. I love it. I have learned so much by that advice or just by being around her. She truly has the biggest heart too and I hope my own children think the same of me someday.
Your mum sounds like a truly amazing lady, It’s lovely that you are able to spend the summer together. I don’t know where I’d be without my parents, they live two hours away which I know isn’t that far but when they come over they just do so much for me. Particularly now with my husband’s illness they just come and do my shopping, take the kids out, anything to give me the break I need! Love them xx
I am so grateful for our summers together here in the states with her and my kids. We love it. Oh yes parents are a godsend and it’s nice to have them close. Technology has kept me close to my own parents for sure.
Great post. You’re mum sounds great. I had a good childhood and I hope I’m giving my children what we had. Lots of love and fun. A safe place to go home to.
I used to think “I will do things different than my parents” And now, being a parent myself, I totally get what they did and why. And they were right to do so. It makes you look back at things at a very different way. You get things now you didn’t get as a kid or teenager. My parents are the best!
She really is an amazing woman. I am so lucky that she is my momma. I am the same too we don’t see logic when we are the child until we are parents like them and understand it’s all out of love.
Ah a lovely post Jenny, I believe the same as you it is so important that your children are not materialistic and appreciate the simple things in life, and that they get they look after and appreciate, your Mom sounds amazing a great lady x
Thank you Sarah so lovely of you. I really hope neither every become like that it is not good for the soul. lol The simple things are life are better and last longer to make us happy. My mother is truly amazing I am so grateful, lucky and love her tons.
Aren’t Mums the best?? I’m sure I appreciate mine so much more since I became one myself… Think I’ve realised the level of her sacrifice. Incredible. Sounds like you are a very blessed lady. Enjoy precious time with her!xx
They sure are and I only wish I lived closer to mine and I am so thankful we have facetime to stay close with the kids and them. Thank you I sure will, I take it all in as much as possible while we are here with her. Love our summers at my parents.
She sounds amazing! You are truly blessed to have such a wonderful mum.
What an amazing lady, beautiful inside and out. We were so lucky to have the upbringing we had, I realise we were so privileged but my parents still taught us to appreciate money and not spoil us. Those values are so important and I’m passing those onto my kids too, hope you are having a gorgeous time with your family back home, V
Thank you Vicki, I completely agree. I am trying my best to do the same for my two kids. I think it’s so very important to not be spoiled them rotten. It’s a saying for a reason for sure. We are having a fantastic time here in the states making the most of every moment together. I love being here and only too sad next year will only be a few weeks instead of our normal two months but always grateful as ever to even be able to come visit. I love home.
Ah, this is a lovely post. You clearly really admire your Mum and it’s lovely that you want the same experience for your children too. I hope you’re having a lovely Summer visiting home 🙂 x
Of course, she has done more than her part at being a mother to me and even some of my siblings that aren’t her own children. She is inspiring in so many ways. I hope I am half the mommy she is. We are having such a great time with my family and friends here.