Friday Five: Motherly Advice

I wanted to make this Friday Five a personal tribute to our own Mothers.  The five of us bloggers, having grown up together, had more than one Mom at any point in our teenage years.  More than one Mom to talk to, to complain to and to hear the sage old advice of what we should do and what we shouldn't.  It was nice to know that so many people cared about us!  So this week I gave a challenge to my fellow contributors.  What was the best piece of advice your Mom has given you?

There are five of us, which means that this week is dedicated to our Moms.  You know who you are and how much we appreciate you.  We love you, and want you to know that the things that you stayed up nights worrying about, stuck with us.  We listened and we learned.  We just want to say thank you, over and over again.  Happy Mother's Day!

1. Ali's Mom: The Giver of Clarity
Recently, I was lamenting to my mom about my constant fear that everyone is going to see me only for my mistakes, problems and shortfalls. My mom let me finish and asked, "Do you dwell on your own problems or someone elses?" Of course, I fired back, "My own! I think about them constantly!" To which she said, "Exactly. No one is focusing our your mistakes and problems- they're too busy focusing on their own." I had never stopped to think about this before and it was a true moment of clarity.

 

2. Chloe's Mom: The Giver of Knowledge

Finish school. She'd never say this, but to paraphrase, "just ******* do it." So I did it and I'm so glad I did.

 

3. Stefanie's Mom: The Giver of Happiness

Follow your gut and don't worry about what other people think.  I know that I have been hearing those words since I was pretty little.  My mom is the kind of person that will take the burnt piece of toast so that no one else has to eat something less appetizing.  She is always making other people feel good and focusing on fixing the problems of others.  Whenever I get worried that I am not doing the right thing or upset over how someone made me feel she reminds me that I know myself better than anyone else.  "Follow your gut Stefanie, and you will never be unhappy."

 

4. Britta's Mom: The Giver of Support
Part of the unspoken definition of Mom is "to support." It isn't so much in the saying as it is in the doing- from reading this blog daily to jointly embarking on small business proprietorship, Mom is there to support and encourage.

5. Ashley's Mom: The Giver of Friendship
Sometimes you just need a friend and you find it in Mom. As someone who knows you, and has been-there-done-that, Mom always makes for a good girls night full of advice and fun. From Manicures to Margaritas to Macy's, Mom is the perfect companion.

Celebrating Mom, Harbor Style

"Mom!"
"Moooooooom..."
"Mo-OM!"
"MOMMY!"

It was always the first word off my lips when I was in need. So easy to say and so many ways to say it. Whether it was insistent, whiny, impatient or frantic, the word Mom summoned the fixer of all things as a child. Ok, I'll admit, as an adult as well. Even though I'm 28, married and a mother myself, my mom is still my superwoman. There is no one on this planet I love, trust and idolize as much as her. I bet you feel the same way about your Mom, and I'm going to assume that you've tasked yourself with honoring her this Mother's Day with some spectacular day of events this coming Sunday.

No? Uh oh. First, before you earn yourself a motheresque tsk-tsk when you show up at 5pm on Sunday with a box of drugstore chocolates and a handful of wilted dandelions, pick up a real gift. There's still time! Fresh out of inspiration? Greater Grays Harbor, Inc offers a number of suggestions on their Mother's Day blog post that are local and memorable.

Secondly, if you aren't a culinary connoisseur yourself, make reservations at a local restaurant to wow (mom upside down) Mom's palate with an array of deliciously indulgent only-once-a-year-foods like quiche, mimosas and more. I would list the wonderful options here for you.... if businesses in Grays Harbor had websites. From memory, I recall Bridges has done a Mother's Day brunch for many years, the Shilo Inn & Suites in Ocean Shores does one, Wesport Winery is definitely doing a Fete de Meres and some local restaurants like Amore and Mallard's will probably have lovely dinner offerings.

Thirdly, and lastly, celebrate other local mom's! Visit The Daily World's Mother's Day Photo Contest page and vote on your favorite candid snapshot of other Harborite moms in their moments of glory and goofiness with their family.

You know your mom better than you think you do - find something fun and special to do with her this Mother's Day to show her how much you care and appreciate her. We wouldn't be here without our mothers - be sure to say thank you!