I think we can all agree that moms are the ultimate superheroes behind many success stories. They give us the strength we need to move forward and give us the motivation and the push we need to obtain the greatest of our capabilities. In my case, my mother was both the nurturer as well as the provider to three children. Having such a strong and powerful presence in my life has taught me a lot. Here are the things I’ve learned from growing up with a mother that plays the role of both parents.
Independence
Having a working mom has taught me to rely on myself in every aspect of life. I started working at a young age because I have a vision of where I want to be in the future. So I decided to give myself a head start in order to reach the same level of success as my mom.
Self-love
I was able to learn what it means to look at myself in the mirror and become satisfied with what I see. I have learned to keep my opinion of myself above anyone else’s. Self love is the key to accepting your flaws and mistakes rather than dwelling on the things that went wrong.
Family responsibilities
Relying on family and love and support have become a very important aspect to hold onto. A family tends to stick together more and we end up carrying each others slack. Sometimes a daughter can lead the role of a mother, while the mother can become a sister. A brother can carry the roles of a father to his younger siblings, and a younger brother can play the role of the big brother. We each care for each other and we know what it means to be responsible.
Time management
Working mothers learn how to balance work and family on a daily basis. It takes a lot of time and effort to have a full time job, or running a business whilst also being there for your children. Luckily, I have learned the value of managing time by watching my mother run her business, attend plays, tournaments, and parent-teacher conferences. Therefore, I have become more aware of the importance of prioritizing my time to be able to balance my work life, studies, family, and friends.
Empathy
To be empathetic is to be able to put yourself in other peoples’ shoes. When someone is going through a hard time, stop and think about how they’re feeling instead of focusing on how it is affecting your life. If my mother is ever upset or unhappy, I put myself in her shoes and realize the stress that she is under. So I have become her support system the same way she has always been mine.
Value of money
Seeing my mother work so hard whilst constantly being around her three children has shown me the value of the money that comes into our home. How hard she works for it, and how much she loves to spoil us with it. I have become more aware of where I spend my money and how to save it up. This means to understand the value of her effort more than the value of the money that comes in.
