It's not always easy to appreciate your mom's advice when you're a kid, but by the time you're an adult, all those bits and pieces (eat your vegetables, don't forget a jacket, pick yourself up when you fall) start to make a lot more sense.
In honor of Mother's Day, our writers share their own mothers' most influential guidance -- the tips that have carried them through dating, marriage, heartbreak, childbirth, parenting, and the rest of life's biggest moments.
"When I got married 28 years ago, the only thing my mother said to me was, 'Begin as you mean to go on.' It relates to large issues and small and it's great advice-- if you want him to pick up his socks, don't do it for him. And yes, I have passed that on to both of my children. My other advice to my kids is, 'Take a book.'" -- Kelly Rossiter
"I inherited a little snippet of Chinese proverbial wisdom from my mom which goes: 'If the horse dies, then you've got to get off and start walking'. Essentially it means if things go south, there's no use complaining, just suck it up and keep going -- a useful reminder in difficult times." -- Kim Mok
"The advice I hear most often from my mom is, "This too shall pass." We are usually discussing some difficult part of parenting or a phase in my daughter's life. At the time I hear it, I always feel immediately annoyed. But, in the end, she is right. All the hard times of parenting like sleepless nights, teething, tantrums, and growing pains do indeed pass."--Jenni Grover
"Trust your gut: This was ingrained in me growing up. It's a simple but powerful piece of advice that's given me the confidence to make tough decisions, not to mention pulling off some high-wire acts (like motherhood)."--Julie Douglas
"The greatest piece of advice my mom gave me is to always make time to be alone with your spouse. She says you need to come together as a team once you have kids, rather than allowing the introduction of kids to serve as a reason for drifting apart. She encourages a regularly-scheduled date night, and annual vacations -- alone together -- even if it's just a weekend away from the kids.
"I didn’t know how valuable her advice was until I began to follow it. I realize how dearly I love my husband and how much I appreciate him as a mate and a father to my child." -- Katie Morton
"Besides giving birth to me, my mom has always been a proponent of giving me a life -- especially once I became consumed with parenthood.
"Whenever I would say something about my kids like, 'Oh, they would never do that,' (like sleep in their own room or stay with a babysitter), my mom would remind me that I might be surprised. And I was." --Amy Suardi
"My mom was a notorious worry-wart when I was a kid (hey, it was all out of love), but she is an incredibly mellow, don't-sweat-the-small-stuff kind of grandma! She's been an elementary school teacher for nearly 30 years, so she is constantly keeping me grounded in reality with no nonsense advice as I parent my three young kids.
"Whenever I start to freak out about child development milestones or minor kid issues, she always brings me back down to reality with the words, 'If your kids are happy, learning and you as a family are working on it as best you can, no issue is too big or worth too much worry.' Thanks Mom - you have officially given me license to sleep and loosen up!" -- Jessica McFadden
"My mom would say, 'Where does forgiveness live?' The answer: 'In your heart.'
"'Where does love live?' 'In your heart.'
"'Where does compassion live?' 'In your heart.'
"Now, if my children are being mean, cruel, or angry I say, 'Where does forgiveness live?' and they both say, 'in my heart.' And I say "Yes, and when you are ready to let it live out here -- let me know.'"--Monica Rodgers
"My mother's wedding dress epitomizes her wisdom. She wore a simple, knee-length white dress. Although I know she always regretted missing out on the fairytale accoutrements, I have tried to embrace that philosophy of taking what you want out of life, without letting societal expectations slow your pursuit of happiness.
"Now a great-grandmother, she still enjoys windsurfing and downhill skiing with that same man at her side. I hope I am so lucky. I also hope I have passed this joy on to my two daughters, and that their eyes will brim with tears of love, as mine do now, when they meditate upon my influence in their lives."--Christine Lepisto
"Several years ago, my mother played a song for my brother and me that she said summed up exactly what she wanted for us. Every lyric of the song is a little piece of advice for us, but I think the chorus sums it up nicely. From 'I Hope You Dance,' by Lee Ann Womack:
'I hope you still feel small when you stand by the ocean
'Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
'Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance
'And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
'I hope you dance'
"As my daughter gets older, I hope she chooses to always dance, too." --Ryan Johnson
"From a young age, my mom taught me that women are tough. Not just women today, but women for generations have stoically faced pain for the benefit of their children and families (and I'm not just talking about childbirth!)
"She told me that the key to natural childbirth was to relax. Let the contractions do the work. And when the pain became unbearable to know that deliver is imminent and the hard work will soon be over. As a newly pregnant mother, these words of wisdom helped me to relax and deliver both my children naturally.
"The new parenting advice my mom gave me was to hang in there for six weeks. That helped me persevere through sore nipples, a strong sucker, and sleepless nights. And lo and behold, one day I was nursing and thought, "Hey, this isn't so bad." I actually knew what day of the week it was and when I looked at the calendar: It had been 45 days." --Brittany, Pretty Handy Girl