Sunday, May 08, 2011

Happy Mother's Day, Mommy!


My Mom, ahead of her time. 
Check out the oversized sunnies, boyfriend button down, stacked accessories on her wrist. 
So NOW, taken in the mid 1990s.

To my mom who taught me a lot about life and style, HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

THE LESSONS MY MOM TAUGHT ME:

On Keeping the Faith
- To pray and have an unwavering faith in God, because He always knows what is best for us
- Everything happens for a reason, we don't know now, but we always see how God's hand works when an event unfolds that explains why
- To pray to St. Joseph for a good husband, and to St. Anthony when I lose things

On Being a Wife & Mom
- Do not nag
- Keep the house pretty and tidy, make it a sanctuary for the family
- Do not be impressed by a guy who wears expensive clothes and drives flashy cars.  Look for a guy who is responsible, who has drive and ambition. He will make his own destiny.
- Support your husband in his career, do not add to his concerns at work
* My mom is an army wife, so we hardly saw my Dad at home when he was still in active service. He was always out on the field. Nevertheless, she never made us feel bad if our Dad did not get to attend important school affairs, birthdays, confirmations and graduations. She made it clear to us that Dad's job is to serve the country, and we have to support him.

On Beauty & Style
- When you take care of your skin, you don't need make-up
- Drink lots of water
- Don't be trendy, be stylish
- Aspire for French chic - effortless and natural
- Look to Audrey Hepburn and Jackie O. for timeless style

On Fashion
- Fit is important
- When buying clothes, look for even stitching, clean seams, fabrics that breath
- Invest in pieces that last, go for the classics because that is money well spent
- When you dress in clothes you feel comfortable in, you carry yourself better (I still remember her pointing out a girl to me while we were having dinner out. The girl was wearing a short dress and hobbling in heels, obviously uncomfortable with her outfit. My mom says, if you wear clothes that aren't "you", it shows in your body language.)
- Quality over Quantity. ALWAYS. My mom used to say, it is better to have 1 pair of shoes that go with everything than to have so many pairs that are hardly used

Other Practical Advice:
- When driving, stay away from jeepneys, tricycles and rusty cars. Because "nakakahawa ang kalawang" and if they bump into you, you can't ask them to pay for the damage to your car.
- Money is not everything. The richest people are not always the happiest. Especially rich people who stole their riches or acquired it through illegal means. How can there be satisfaction in that? They will always feel empty in spite of their money.
- There is nothing more precious than being able to sleep soundly at night knowing that you did NOT lie, cheat, steal or accuse someone wrongly.
- Always count our blessings - good health, sincere friends, a roof over our heads,  hearty, tasty meals enjoyed with a supportive and loving family. At the end of the day, that's all that matters.

Yes, my mom is wise, but there are other bits of advice my mom has taught me, that I do not agree with, i.e.:

Aspire for a simple life - No, Mom, I want to live the life of my dreams. I want to be wealthy, but yes I will earn my money the clean way, just how you'd want it. 
Ignore the people who fight you - Not always, Mom, some people need to be put in their place.
Stick with the people you know best - There is always room to make new friends, no matter what stage you are in life.

Ahhh, mothers and daughters. We may not always agree with each other, but there is no denying the bond and influence they hold sway over us.

Happy Mother's Day to my fellow Mommies and to your Moms, dear readers!

7 comments:

lovewillsavetheday said...

Reading through your post makes me miss my mom even more (she's in Manila while I'm here in Riyadh)...the lessons your mom taught you were the exact same things my mom always tells me. And, having a stylish mom is truly a blessing.. your daughter should be proud of you, too! Happy mom's day! =)

Unknown said...

Happy Mother's Day, Ms. Christine!!!! :) Love this post; it seemed like you're preaching to us na rin. :)

Anonymous said...

awww... you have such a cool mom =)

Anonymous said...

great post, thanks for sharing, happy mother's day ms. tin.

~ S from DC

cimeon said...

your mother is one classy lady, an interesting character. a rarity in the midst of fashion and society poseurs. hooray to moms! :)

cd_mfo said...

Thanks Girls!!! =)

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing your mom's pieces of advice.

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