Best thing Mom ever taught you?

hornswaggled, I can honestly say that it doesn't sound either weird or macabre to me because I learned the same from my mom. I lost her about five years ago to a rare form of cancer and, like your mom, she was always a positive force in the lives of people that knew her and remember her fondly. I offer you my sympathy for the fact that she has passed but I also celebrate with you that your Mom was such a wonderful person and shining influence!

Thanks and you too! I believe if people actually listen to their mom they will get the same thing from them...even if they weren't perfect (and who is?!!) they can glean something from them.
I just hope I'm half as good an influence to my kids as my mother was to me!

I agree with you, smileonstar! What you were taught is indeed very valuable. For you to be able to take care of yourself, basically alone, means that you were taught good skills. Even in our difficult economy, it seems that very few young people are being taught how to properly budget. In fact, one of my daughter's friends has a credit card and doesn't even understand the bill or the terms of using and repaying credit. I like that you referred to what you learned as your mom's method. That's wonderful:)

Oh yes, he started working at the age of 11 and made himself responsible for his own clothing. He was a certified babysitter at 12 and passed the life guard test at 10. He also coached Lacrosse at 14 and hockey.

As well as the sports he loves, he enjoys going to Broadway plays and musical theatre (not the ballet).

Personally he will make a d*mn good husband. He wants to go to school to be a chef when he gets out of the Navy.

Holy smokes! Does he have girls (with or without their parents! LOL) lining up at the door? That's fabulous and congratulations to you on having raised such a fine and independent young man, Debs_place! Your point that he learned "because he liked to eat and have a car that worked" summarizes my thoughts exactly. I am doing the same with my girls - even on the days they fuss at me for it. They are learning how to clean a bathroom properly (not just cleaning the sink and toilet and thinking they're done), wash dishes by hand and run the dishwasher, sort laundry and run the machines (although I too hang mine outdoors and am trying to teach them more frugal habits), and more. We're working on cooking now. I don't make homemade pancakes anymore - my older daughter does it as a treat for the family. She's gotten so good at it. Not that she can live on pancakes but just an example LOL I remember teaching the younger one how to cook eggs in different ways (she can't eat them herself - she is allergic unfortunately) because she was babysitting for the whole summer and the child liked eggs for breakfast. My daughter arrived for her very first day of her job and the kid wanted eggs:D If you asked my girls, though, I guarantee they would tell you that the thing I've stressed most is how to be frugal. They earn their own spending money and they do use it cautiously. The "joke" in our house is that you learn to a stretch a dollar to its breaking point! I happen to think that's a valuable skill

Yeah, being a well mannered person is being mold by a mother...

Good manners and etiquette matters are things that really should be taught early on, I agree. I taught my children from toddler age that, for example, we eat at the dinner table. We don't get up and run around (either at home or in a restaurant or at someone else's house). We eat properly and when we are done, we ask to be excused. I worked really hard with them on these things because I wanted to be able to take them out to a nice restaurant and enjoy our time together -- all the while NOT disturbing everyone around us. It drives me nuts when children are allowed to run and play in restaurants or, even worse, crawling around under the tables and such. I know I experienced many instances where I'd get "those looks" from the staff or other patrons when I first entered a restaurant with young children... but I always got courteous service when the girls were quiet and respectful.

I think it's great that you've learned practical skills from your mom, joannaleed... cooking isn't easy for everyone and many people don't consider themselves good at it. The main thing, I believe, is that you learn to make food that is not difficult and is healthy for you so that, when you're not living with your parents anymore, you won't have to rely on only pre-packaged or processed foods (or take-out!). Also, it's nice to learn how to prepare some of your favorite dishes that your mom currently cooks for you -- you'll be surprised how much you might miss them when you're living on your own;)

thank you so much..I'm so touch with your message...Anyway, I will try my very best to be a very good cook...not now but maybe sooner or later...Thanks a lot...

Go when you can go....don't wait because you might get in an accident or the bathroom at the destination is closed......and also treat everyone equal, no one is better than anyone else

Yeah...I think I have to do it now...Go for it.,..LOL...Have a great day everyone...

That's wonderful, cainam! My mom dabbled in oil painting but, sadly, I possess none of that talent. I can't draw well either. I did learn some other handicrafts from her and my grandmother though so I'm not totally lacking in creative expression*grin*

This is a very sweet response, shimanaja, and I can tell you have much love for your mother. I think that teaching girls to be independent is a very valuable thing indeed. I am trying hard to raise strong, confident daughters who value themselves first and then they can value their relationships with others that much more:)

Thanks friend..always get the spirit for your own kind..:)

As a mother myself, I can easily look back on my childhood and the times I thought my mom was being harsh or unfair - but she was right. We do understand much better as we age and, in many cases, I think people appreciate their parents more at that time!

That is excellent, bing28! She taught you something so practical in that you can benefit for yourself and your own family but, if need be, you can also apply those same skills to a workplace. Valuable lesson indeed!

These are very valuable traits for anyone to have, msfrancisco! And the best part is that moms have a way of teaching us that, as long as we give our best, that is always enough:)