In their own way, our mothers had a huge impact on our future. They probably just didn't realise it at the time how what they said would be translated into our adulthood.
Here is what my mother used to say to me and my interpretation of what she was teaching me;
· “Stop being lazy and get out of bed” – Mornings are when we are at our most creative, don’t waste it lying in bed.
· “Make your damn bed” – starting each day by making your bed puts your head in order, allows you to start the day with a routine, allows you to wake properly, and you have time to think about your day ahead.
· “Eat all of your breakfast” – breakfast is when you need to take on board energy (carbohydrates) to get you through the period of the day when sugar is at its lowest, to stop those mid-afternoon chocolate cravings.
· “Brush your teeth” – personal hygiene not only makes you look (and smell) better, it makes you feel good about yourself.
· “Have you got a clean handkerchief?” – you never know when others may need a shoulder to cry on and you can sit, listen, and offer a handkerchief as a sign of caring.
· “Don’t waste your pocket money on junk” – spend your money wisely.
· “Listen to me” – listening is what we should all strive to do before opening our mouth.
· “Stand still for 5 minutes” – in a busy day stop and smell the roses, listen to the birds, and centre yourself.
· “Have you done your homework yet?” – To have a restful sleep, write a list of the things you have to do the next day so that you can relax knowing that you have your list ready for tomorrow.
· “Get to sleep now, or else” – sleep is probably the most important thing that you can do for your wellbeing.
My mother also told me that I had to wear clean underwear in case I was in an accident. I used to think that if I was in an accident I am sure my underwear would be the first thing soiled. What she actually meant was to take pride in you who you are, what you do, and what you stand for.
Listen to your mothers, they are much wiser than you may think.