The Best Advice OUR Moms Gave Us

We asked our team at YMC this simple question, and the answers were nothing short of amazing—just like our writers, bloggers, and staff:

What was the best advice your mom ever gave you?

Julie: Don't treat them all the same, because they're not all the same. To treat them the same would be treating them unfairly. They all have different needs and you need to respond to those individual needs.

Angella: When you want something to happen, sometimes the answer is "yes," sometimes the answer is "no," and sometimes the answer is "wait."

Sarah R.: Surround yourself with people who make you happy and who you can be your true self with. Distance yourself from toxic relationships or people who bring you down.

Kat A.: Always look your best because you never know who you are going to meet.

Caroline: Your kids will never remember you dusting the house so go outside and play with them.

Andrea: We aren’t going to panic until there is something to panic about. And even when that happens, we can do it.

Natalie: Follow your heart. Put some money aside. The best gift you can give your daughter is self-confidence. Wait until you are ready (about having sex for the first time!) But Mom how will I know? You'll know when you're ready!

Joe: Sometimes you just have to laugh at the absurdity of it all.

Dara: My mom said to always make and have my own money. That way I would never be pressured or feel pressured to stay somewhere that I wasn't safe or happy! And it's so great for confidence too. As kids of single moms know (myself included) you can make it on your own with a lot less than you think, if you need to, but being broke is stressful. You might not know when or if you will lose your partner and being prepared is just self-preservation.

Tanya: The best advice my mom gave me and lived by was that laughter is the best medicine. My mom passed away in 1997 but every time I have a really great laugh I hear her still. It's magic.

Liis: I had quit my safe job in Toronto to pursue the completely unknown world of modelling in Chicago going on a wing and a prayer. My mom told me to go for it and that no matter what happened, I always had a home to come back to, a warm bed and a roof over my head. That was almost 20 years ago and she has always been one of my biggest supporters in all that I do. She rocks.

Dan: Know when to speak up and know when to keep your mouth shut.

Sharon: Always give more than you receive.

Gurpreet: Be confident of the weight that your own shoulders can carry which basically means Anything is possible if you believe in yourself.

Ann-Marie: Always be yourself. Friends who aren't nice to you aren't your friends. Change your bedsheets every Sunday.

Evelyn: My lovely mother was such an unusual woman. She didn't really offer advice. She simply taught by shining example. And from her I learned charity, empathy, and courage.

Erica: She told me to have a lot of boyfriends and not to settle. I ended up getting married later than many and finding a man who respects me for who I am, who shares the domestic responsibilities with me, and is an all-around great guy who makes my life better. This is something I hope to pass on to my kids, to help them find themselves first and then choose a life partner who will enhance their life.

Ruth: It takes just as much effort to fall in love with a rich man as it does with a poor man. (Haha! Kidding.) Although she did say that! My favourites: Never EVER let any man disrespect you. Don't become frumpy just because you're getting older. Have fun with clothes. Don't waste your brains.

Annabel: Be compassionate. Treat others how you would like to be treated.

Robin: Don't worry about regretting the things you do; you'll probably regret the things you don't do more, so embrace those opportunities. (This could probably be shortened to carpe diem!)

Hailey: Never be ashamed of what you're ashamed of. Don't worry about what others think. Just be yourself...and be proud of who you are.

Lisa: The best advice my mom ever gave me, she didn't tell me, she showed me. And it's simple...laugh. When life gets hard, find the funny if you can. Find a way to smile or be silly, and suddenly whatever crap life has flung your way is easier to manage.

Jen C.: The best advice my mom ever gave me did not come in the form of words. They always say that the best way to guide our children is to lead by example and this is what my mother has always done. She is the most hard-working and honest person I know. She's the first to volunteer to help and ALWAYS follows through on what she commits to. From watching her all these years, I learned to have pride in my work and a sense of responsibility. I can't thank her enough.

Karen E: A house with many bathrooms might be something you wish you had, but once you have it you will realize that is way too many bathrooms you need to keep clean.

Sarah G: I think I would say that she taught me to enjoy the beauty in the world. I can't even count the number of times we would go for drives along the ocean and just stop the car and watch and listen to the waves, {while my dad would go get us a snack.} She also always encouraged me to follow my dreams and my creativity. I have never been afraid to try something and that is because I was never told that I could not.

Karen G: The best advice my mother ever gave me was to not stress out during childbirth. She said that every contraction you have is one contraction closer to meeting your baby. They are finite and you can handle them. And I did, drug-free.

Kim: Have your own career. Don't ever count on a man to be your sole financial support—because life is unpredictable and you simply never know what will happen.

Spill It: What's the best advice *your* mom gave you?