Thanks, Mom!
I was talking about love, relationships, parents and their influence on the first two last night with co-workers. And as we talked meddlesome parents, I shared what my mother said to me a few years ago (I'm paraphrasing, but the spirit is true):
"I won't tell you who not to date. I'll let you make your own mistakes and I'll be there to pick up the pieces, if necessary."
The hands-off approach can be a little harsh, but in the grand scheme of things, I think it's the best approach. You have to push the bird out of the nest sometime. (And sometimes more than once.)
So, in that spirit or momular wisdom, here's the best five bits of mom-related love advice:
"I won't tell you who not to date. I'll let you make your own mistakes and I'll be there to pick up the pieces, if necessary."
The hands-off approach can be a little harsh, but in the grand scheme of things, I think it's the best approach. You have to push the bird out of the nest sometime. (And sometimes more than once.)
So, in that spirit or momular wisdom, here's the best five bits of mom-related love advice:
From Susan K.:
"When I was very young (15), I had a much older bf. He had a jealous streak and after telling my mother that he had followed me one night when I went out with my gf's, she told me not to let a man control me. She said "your world will just get smaller and smaller." I still live by that advice. She was a smart lady!"
From Catherinette Singleton's mom:
Love is like a shadow: if you chase it, you'll never catch it. If you leave it alone, it will follow you.
According to Phil:
On my wedding day, my mom gave me a card with the following inscribed:
To keep love flowing
and to fill your loving cup,
Whenever you're wrong admit it,
And whenever you're right shut up.
VERY GOOD advice from mhs' mother:
"If you're fighting about someone leaving their socks on the floor, you're not fighting about the socks."
And Jay's mom sounds like she's studying from the same book as mine:
I find that mothers (a lot of women in general not all) give very bad advice to their sons and other important males in their lives. My mother was right to say "just as long as I was happy that all that matters".
So, there you go. Call or visit your mom this weekend and thank her for all her good (and bad) advice.
And, oh, take this bit of wisdom from mother Heather:
"I want your motto to be: Get a Date in '08"
