Mother Knows Best

Every time Mother’s day rolls along each year, we are reminded about how much our moms mean to us and how much they affect our lives, habits and personalities. They teach us manners and good graces, discipline, tenderness, how to love, and how to love back. These little things are left ingrained in our hearts and minds and stay with us as we grow up and become parents ourselves.

Although some of us are closer to our moms than others, we can always be assured that our moms will always be there when we need them. It’s the guidance and support that they impart to us that molds us in our younger years and influences us as we reach adulthood. As kids, we may not always understand them and their ways, but as we grow up we always find out that when it comes to us, our mothers always have the best intentions.

To show appreciation to the most important people in our lives, we dedicate this to all the moms out there. We love you moms! Happy Mother’s Day!

We asked people "What is the best lesson you've learned from your mom?"

Reena, 55

My mother was a character! It's funny how now, I see that in most things (with resistance in my younger days) that I've become my mother 2.0. She taught me so many things from practical to social graces etc, but when I look back, the best lesson that ties up all the other lessons is how to have a relationship with God, to talk to him like a friend, to confide in him, to tell stories, to thank him, to ask and to bargain for grace and after you've done your best, you have to let go and accept the bigger decision our Lord has made for you. What a journey I am going through at the mid-point of life and this blog won't be enough for those stories... Though in the most humble ways, I am blessed specially with my 3 boys and I wonder if asked the same question, what their answer would be?

Marco, 33

Be smart with Money! Buy experiences and not things!

Growing up, my mom did not spoil me with material things. She would rather spend on food and travel. True enough, I can’t even remember things I wished I could have owned, BUT I do remember vividly the memories created during our travels. Also, she would always say it’s not about how much you earn but how much you can keep!

Live an active lifestyle: Health is Wealth!

My mom has always encouraged me to go into sports! During my childhood, my mom would always bring me to summer camps. Years later, I realized having a sport can in fact instill discipline and makes one happier and healthier of course!

Iko, 31

My mom taught me basically everything about life. What stuck with me is to be a fighter - face your problems head on so it will be over right away! (she has a point) And to really enjoy life to the littlest details. Her wisdom and outlook in life is what I live by PLUS her high-pitched voice LOL. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH MOM! Happy Mother's Day!

Jaia, 29

The best advice mama gave me is, "let go and forgive even though a person doesn't ask for forgiveness coz it will give you inner peace and break you free from worries."

Kat, 41

When I gave birth to my daughter Krystle, I was 20 years old. Obviously I didn't know much about being a mother however, I was determined to be a good one.

My Mom lives in Canada and I remember talking to her one night on the phone when my daughter was a few months old and I guess I expressed at one point during the conversation about my fears about being a good parent. She gave a lot of good and practical advice but the one thing that she said that always stuck with me was"You don't own your daughter. You were chosen by God to love, protect and nurture this child. Your job is to provide for her, guide her, raise her to be a good human being.

But you have to remember that you would have to let her go when it is time." And this helped me a lot, it prevented me from hovering too much and being a "helicopter parent".

I didn't want to suffocate my daughter by being too overprotective but of course I still had rules in place, you can't be too lenient either.

My mother's advice was very helpful especially during the teenage years and even until this day. The teenage years is the time when they start going out with friends, boys getting interested, and just wanting to do things on their own. And that's never easy for any parent because you're faced with the fact that your child is no longer a baby. But I was preparing myself for this day because I would always have that voice of my mother in my head. As soon as she hit puberty I was mentally and emotionally preparing myself already. I had to slowly learn how to let her go and let her discover who she is and accept that the process doesn't always include you.

She's a young adult now, she's 21 years old. She's a recent college graduate, she would soon learn that adulting is really hard! I do still worry whenever she goes out at night with friends, whenever she goes job hunting or has plans of going out of town. You never stop worrying no matter what age they are but I have to trust that she remembers everything I taught her whenever she's out there in the real world. As a result of this advice from my mother I ended up making sure that she knew how to think for herself and learn how to make her own decisions at an early age. My Mom told me I have to let her spread her wings and fly one day and that day has come.

Being a young single mother, my daughter and I practically grew up together. There were a lot of challenges a long the way that made us both strong women and I believe we inherited that toughness and resilience from my Mom. I may be 41 years old but she still looks out for me, worries about me and is always there to help whenever I need it. The one thing I know for sure is that I will do the same for my daughter no matter what age she is. Unconditional love is a powerful thing to have in your life. My mother gave that to me and continues to do so and no doubt I will give that same unconditional love to my daughter.

Tin, 33

My Mama always told me to... Moisturize. Use sunscreen. Looks are not important, but it wouldn't hurt to always be at your best. Save money like you're going to lose everything tomorrow. Don't expect handouts from people. Be independent. Fight for what's right. Embrace who you are, and that includes your weirdness and imperfections. Use your better judgment. Never settle for second best. Family is everything.

Candy, 32

Madaming winner advise ang nanay ko.

I'll give my top 3:

Make sure you have your basic needs before shopping for those designer/luxury items. Basic needs are: a house, food and water, basic clothes, and a car.

Save up. You don't want to be dependent on your kids when you're old and retired.

You work. Have your own money, para hindi mo iaasa sa asawa mo yung pambili mo ng panty at alahas.

Gen, 34

Being the only girl in the family and having 3 brothers gave me the opportunity to be close to my mom. But this was not always the case. Of course we had our share of fights and tears too but I believe this made our relationship stronger. Growing up my mom would always tell me NOT TO GET PREGNANT EARLY so I can finish my school, make them proud and prepare for the life that they want me to have. She shared a lot of stories about teenage pregnancy including her very own experience (yes, she gave birth to my elder brother when she was 18) and because of that I was very determined not to fail my mom. I finished my studies on time, got a job, travelled, started helping them and married after an eleven-year relationship with my boyfriend. I know now that this is exactly what she was explaining to me during my high school years. This was the picture that she was letting me see. I am so glad I listened to her. Mom really knows best!

Now that I have two daughters I am excited and scared to guide them and to teach them on how to face this crazy beautiful life that we have. But knowing that I have my mom around and the lessons that she shared, I know that my daughters and I will have the same relationship that my mom and I have.

Maggie, 32

How do I put it? My mom is like a woman of a few words. She expresses her love through keeping things tidy at home, making sure there's food on the table every meal time, making sure our clothes are clean and pressed properly. Now that I'm a wife and a mother, those by far are the best things I learned from her. It sure is hard work, and it greatly shows the love she has for us.

Laurs, 29

My mom would always tell me every time we argue that the only gift that money cannot buy that she could possibly give me and my siblings is for her providing "a dream". I pretty much did not know what she meant until I stepped into law school and then I wholeheartedly knew what my mom meant by her statement. I would always recall her telling me that I can give you everything that you want but your education and your strive to reach your goals and aspirations should never be compromised. She gave me a chance to dream and gave me the opportunity to go for it. Now that I am nearing the end of my law school journey, I know that my dream will become a reality because of her selfless love and support every single day. I owe everything to my mom because from the beginning I know that she is the epitome of the saying "Mom knows best!".

Julia, 27

She taught me to invest only in quality things-- shoes, travel, good relationships. She taught me to see the world and then make it better.

Christian, 33

Families will experience pain, failures and losses, but family is family. And, no matter what happens; you stand beside them, not behind, not ahead...always.

Carlos Alfonso, 24

It's difficult to compare the lessons my mama taught me and to choose the best lesson out of all of them, because all are as valuable as the other. These lessons have equipped me to be independent and responsible to face life and it's challenges with persistence. Apart from disciplining me, she also taught me to be caring and compassionate for others, and to treat everyone with respect. Even until now I'm still learning, "tigas ulo" kasi, hehe. Thank you for your patience mom! And sorry for the stress. You are the best mother in the world!!! (As cliche as that sounds, you really are) I love you mama dearest!

Leah, 33

Honestly, I cannot put into words the best advice as there were heaps of them and all were vital and meaningful to me as a person.

The best thing I learned from a very strong woman who managed to raise and nurture 3 children alone. Her strong will and positive outlook in dealing with all the challenges in life lead her to succeed in giving her children nothing but the best.

You always see a graceful smile on her face not knowing all the struggles she went through from childhood, working at an early age and experiencing a loss of a husband. Giving up is not an option to a woman like her. She’s driven, hard working and always has an idea and solution to everything. She is selfless. Willing to share and help her friends, relatives, and family with everything as long as she can. As she would always say, “hayaan mo na, sila nalang muna may darating pa naman.” She is a very good provider. She did her best in giving us the education we needed and wanted in order for us to find and have a lucrative career and achieving our goals in life. She always found ways for us all to be together and enjoy each other’s company especially during Christmas and New year. She is a cool mom, friends with our friends, and always game with adventures in food, travel and good times.

The list goes on and on. She keeps on telling me always smile and be happy. Enjoy life while you can and are able. A problem is just temporary, do not put too much of your energy into it. Wallowing does not make the problem disappear. Work for it and focus. Do not mind the life of other people, intrigues and what other people have to say to you. Instead follow your goals and love your craft. When you embrace and love your work, your work will love you back. But always live a balanced life. It’s not always work, you have to reward yourself, to relax and enjoy. But remember not to squander to materials things that are not important or useful. Most especially always be thankful to our good Lord for everything from blessings, trials and guidance as it helped shape us to become better and stronger people.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the woman of strength, integrity, compassion and grace. We know it’s tough being a single mother of 3 and you did well. And we are proud to say she is our mom. We are blessed and thankful to have you as our mother and we will always be here for each other. We love you always mother dearest. You are the best.

Andy, 24

The simple yet best advice my mom ever gave me is to always be a gentleman. I would always help my mom in everyday tasks like going to the grocery, carrying heavy bags, or giving her tech advice in using a cellphone or computer. Seeing her smile whenever I assisted her was payment enough. I never asked my mom for anything in return. She worked so hard to raise 5 children and I will always be thankful to God for giving an awesome, caring mother that was there for me during my infancy until adulthood. Even during the times I was angry and struggling with school work, she found time to help me during my time of need. Now it’s my turn to be the one to help her out. I promise to be the best parent ever to my future children just like my mother.

Margarita, 32

The best advice my mother told me is to always believe in yourself. Focus on your strengths rather than your weaknesses. Always push yourself because no one else is going to do it for you.

Teng, 32

Growing up, there were so many things my mom taught me. She taught me how to cook, to set the table, iron clothes, wash the dishes, to always wear my slippers, to be neat and tidy, to always put stuff back in their proper places, to always wash my hands before eating, to fix my bed when I wake up (or else my angel won't guard me for the day - that's how she tricked me) and to always pray to God. The list goes on and on.

You see, my mom is a very simple kind of girl. You can say she's the "old-school" type. She really doesn't care what the latest in fashion is, she barely wears make up, doesn't know how to use Facebook, super not tech savvy, all she does are the wife and mama duties. Simple. Period.

By observing her all of my life, that trait of hers is what I truly admire about her. The best lesson she taught me is how to be simple.

With simplicity, I saw how beautiful life can be even without all the superficial things. I guess the secret recipe to being happy is being content with where you are in your life and making the most out of everyday.

She might be simple to many but to me she's my idol on being real.

Love you Mama!

Gian Karlo, 31

I grew up as a free-spirited, talented and independent individual who makes the most of life - to live, travel and love. My life story especially my relationship with my mom is like a movie - full of life lesson episodes. Coming from a small town in Zamboanga del Sur, the kind of environment I had was living a simple life and maybe I could say, just living the life of a provincial person. When I was growing up, my mom showed me the face of what we call life. It is challenging, but it is always something you look forward to be dealing with. During summer breaks, in the morning, I helped my mom in taking care of my siblings and every afternoon I helped her buy stuff such as flour, baking powder and coco grains for us to use to sell breads and delicacies in our neighborhood. In this, I learned the value of money and ways to earn it. Our family, friends and neighbors know very well what my mom's specialty is - BIKO (Rice Cake). When my father passed away on my last year in high school, it was a struggle for my mom because she was handling the family and the business solely. I never had an idea on how I could help and how to step up be an elder to my 5 siblings. As much as I wanted to, oh yes! I was helpless for I did not have the courage and understanding on how to help my mom. It is true that when you are still young, you let your imagination flow limitlessly. But at a young age, I had full grasp of my imagination, vividly picturing my life in the future and on how I can help my mom. My main objective was to finish studies no matter what. I am the eldest in the family so I was the first one to go to college, I had a lot of universities to choose from, but I chose the one which I believed could help my mom and the family as far as the financial aspect is concerned. I finished my degree at the Mindanao State University - Main Campus and I made my mom proud with the laurels I received. They say that the real challenge is after your school, and yes, I agree. I worked in Manila and had faced different challenges, however these had become easy because of the experiences and lessons I have already learnt in the past. I was able to adjust and survived the hurdles of working in a cosmopolitan city. There is really a huge gap between rural and urban life and can I say, both give you a different taste of life. From then I started sharing my small amount of hard earned money to support my siblings and family. Life is so great and God is so good for giving me the chance to work abroad for Emirates Airlines in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, which gave me the opportunity to share with my family. Now, I am living my dream and working as a flight attendant and I have never stopped supporting my family. I will never forget what Mother Teresa said, "It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving." The blessings I share with my family creates a domino effect as they all do the same, now that they are professionals. Last year, 2016, this very special person in my life left us, and she did so with more than just memories. She never failed to show to us the world and the true meaning of life. She was born with a big heart which undoubtedly helped those who are in need. Mom left us with a special value, the value of goodness and yeah, it pays to be good. I have learned so many things from her, but one thing that I have learned the most and will never forget is the value of sharing. No matter how big or small, and for as long as it is coming from your heart, it is by far LOVE and it is something this world must embrace. She had taught us in her own unique way and was a role model for us. And by doing this act of sharing, I don't just please myself and because sometimes you gotta do something solely for the benefit of someone else. For as long as I live, I will always carry the values which my mom had taught us, and will continue to inspire and touch the lives of others. Caring is love. And if we love others we can make a difference as long as we live right. And never forget to always build good memories and never forget to forgive. Live life. Love life.

Rebecca, 17

My mom's mantra was: "Don't worry, just pray." It's a saying that derives from Padre Pio's "Pray, hope, and don't worry." She would always tell me this when I was stressed about school or life in general, especially in the midst of her sickness at the time. She always reminded me to stay positive and just pray about it. I keep her saying in the back of my mind everyday, especially since I am about to graduate from high school, move on to college at Texas A&M University and simply proceed with life. I always keep her present in my life in any way I can to remind me that she is always with me, watching over me, and praying for me. Even though we are a whole other world away, I will continue to celebrate her like she's still here beside me. Happy Mother's Day, Momma.

Jopy, 28

One of the greatest lessons I learned from my Mom, or to be accurate, am still learning, isn’t so much as a lesson she’s imparted purposively – such as how to take care of myself, how things happen for a reason, or how to throw shade at people without them really knowing – but rather, one she unknowingly teaches me every day.

How to be a good parent.

Which isn’t exactly something I need right now, or for the immediate future, but it’s something important to me. It isn’t just the practicality of it all, but also the intangibles. How to care, how to look out for others, how to go beyond yourself and your needs for someone else, even when it’s hard.

Especially when its hard.

How to love.

Though I have no plans of being a parent anytime soon, these lessons are laying the foundation for it, and helping me become something she, and I myself, want for myself.

She’s teaching me how to be a better man.

And for that, I will always always be, eternally grateful.