A Mother's Love

The most important person in just about anyone's life is Mother.

A mother shapes life habits and gives a foundation for living. When you're fortunate, she teaches you how to live and instills virtues and values beyond what you know and appreciate at the time. Her love is strong and long-lasting. It stays with you forever.

This Mother's Day, when your bank account may have less in it than ordinary, it is an especially good time to do something different than usual for your mom and grandmother, if you're blessed to still have one. Try telling your mother the 10 things you most appreciate about your childhood and what have you've learned from her. Here's my list:

1. My mother gave me the love of reading and learning. As an only child, I learned early on how to occupy myself and to be happy. TV had limitations in my household, so I read a lot, and it's a habit that sticks with me today.

2. She taught me to respect people. She always pointed out that a person could have a variety of circumstances, some not of their own doing, but that every human being is to be respected, whatever their circumstances. Once when I was a child, my mom overheard me talking about a classmate's shabby clothes. She took me shopping to buy a skirt, blouse and socks. When we got home, she said, "You will wear these garments for the next two weeks, every single day. I overheard your discussion about your classmate's dress." She instructed, "You will wash the skirt, blouse and socks every night. You will iron them in the morning. You will be neat and clean, because that is what is important." To this day, I still have the washboard I used to wash those clothes. And never once have I spoken ill about someone's dress since then. It was a valuable and memorable lesson, but it didn't stop there. At Easter, she told me to select my favorite dress and to bring the little girl I'd been talking about home with me. I did, and my mother made me give her the dress. I learned to give my best.

3. She taught me to follow my heart. Sometimes your mind can fool you, but your heart rarely fails you.

4. She gave me the real value of education. One semester in college, I partied a bit too much and my grades fell. The next semester, she said, "You will be working rather than going to school. Perhaps you need a break." I was pulled out of school for a semester to work. She taught me the value of saving money and being serious. When I got back to college -- my second chance -- I went straight through to earn several master's degrees.

5. She taught me excellence. If it was worth doing it, it was worth doing well and right. My mother taught me excellence by practicing what she preached. Do what you do well and don't stop until you're finished.

6. I learned the importance of having personal style. My mother has a wonderful sense of style, color and coordination. She put crazy color combinations together before fashionistas sanctioned it. She is the queen of accessories -- the pin, the scarf and the purse. And she is a shoe nut. A woman's closet must be equipped with shoes (and high heels are best, because they do wonders for your legs).

7. She gave me culture. I have been visiting museums all my life. She did not go with me all the time, but I discovered culture early. Live theater, musicals and concerts were all musts in my household, and also sparked a sense of adventure and exploration.

8. My mother taught me standards. There is music and there is music. There are movies and there are movies. There are clothes and there are clothes. She taught me early on that not just anything would do. Certain things made the grade and others did not. She taught me to be discerning and not to accept just anything or anybody.

9. She gave me discipline. Since I was about 7, I have always had a desk at home. This was the place to study, read, think and plan. I would be lost without a desk -- my place of concentration.

10. Most of all, my mother gave me love. Love is the most important thing in life and it should be shown. She taught me how to tune in to people and to feelings. Everyone who knows my mother knows how she feels. She remembers the special days; she makes the parties; she bakes the cakes; she sends the cards; she makes the phone call; she toasts the champagne; she cares for the sick; she shows her love.

Mothers are special and the older they get, the better they become.

Happy Mother's Day to you!