3 Lessons From My Mother: The Hardest Working Woman I Know

Just as my Dad is the hardest working man I know, my Mother is easily the hardest working woman I know. Mom worked from first thing in the morning until 6 or 7 at night through most of my childhood, and even to this day, that continues to be the case. Here are some of the lessons I have picked up from my Mother along the way.

Dress For Success

Around 7 or 8 years ago, there was a specific day that I learned a new lesson in regards to how to approach my appearance. My Mom, Step Dad, and I had planned a trip to the mall to do some shopping, and for whatever reason, I had decided that I just wasn’t going to put nice clothes on for the afternoon. I rode up in swim trunks, a T-shirt, and slides with no socks. After we got home, Mom made a comment about my appearance, and made the point that it is disrespectful to other people to dress like that. “People don’t want to look at that shit” was her point. When she said that, I actually realized that I agreed. It is disrespectful to other people to dress like that. It’s something that I keep in mind to this day.

As a kid, Mom always made sure that I was showing up to places dressed right. Before school, job interviews, or work shifts Mom used to always make sure that my clothes were ironed, clean, and neat. Along with that, she used to always get on to me about not wearing the same shirt, shoes, or pants everywhere I went. She wanted to make sure I was wearing all the clothes in my wardrobe and bringing some variety in rather than just sticking with a handful of items.

Before a new school year started, Mom would always take me shopping and make sure I had fresh clothes for the new year. There was never a year where I was wearing all the same gear that I was the year before. She always made sure I was dressed for success, and that’s something I will always appreciate.

Eat Healthy

If it wasn’t for my Mother, I probably wouldn’t know anything in regards to what good nutrition is supposed to look like. Even though my Mother isn’t the most voracious chef in the world, she still knows a lot about what a healthy diet is supposed to be.

Mom is always calling to tell me about new health trends or new health products that are gaining popularity. Whether it be mushroom coffee, or a new supplement, Mom always has good recommendations, even if I can’t always take advantage of all of them (it gets expensive!).

On top of that, as I started to get older and start purchasing my own groceries, Mom would always stress the importance of putting healthy nutrients into my body. Avoiding things like excessive bread, sugar, and caffeine, and taking in healthy proteins, fibers, and carbohydrates.

I can’t begin to explain how grateful I am to my Mother for that. Even though it can be a lot of work to consistently monitor what you eat, the benefits in increased clarity, energy, and confidence are worth it. If it wasn’t for my Mother teaching me the importance of a healthy diet, there is a good chance that I wouldn’t be the person I am today.

Be Intelligent With Your Money

By the time I was a teenager and started working and earning my own money, Mom would always help to ensure I was handling it intelligently. She helped me open my first bank account, sign up for my first credit card, and always stressed the importance of monitoring your online banking and paying dues as soon as possible. It’s this guidance that is a large reason why I have always maintained an excellent credit score. I have established credit since I was a young teenager, and have paid the bills consistently ever since, and that wouldn’t be the case if it wasn’t for Mom.

Throughout my childhood, Mom always lived debt-free. Our homes were paid off, vehicles were paid for in cash, and credit card balances were zero. It is this example that has helped mold me into the personal finance enthusiast that I am today.

Mom was never one to waste money on luxury purchases, expensive dinners, or overpriced vacations. She lived below her means and was always thrifty and resourceful. As a kid we frequently would go Goodwill shopping and garage sale shopping, and took a lot of enjoyment in doing so.

Healthy Habits Produce Healthy Results

There are probably a lot more lessons I could come up with, but these are just a few that come to mind. The thing about it is that all 3 of these things go together. Mom has always wanted nothing more than for me to be a healthy, happy, and successful individual. These are just a few of the areas that have helped shape that vision into a reality.

I hope you have enjoyed reading this article, and if so, please let me know in the comments below. Thank you for reading, and I will see you on the next article.