This Mother’s Day, we’re celebrating our mums not just with flowers, hand-drawn cards and warm hugs, but also by sharing the wisdom they passed down that still shapes how we live.
We’re talking about those little things your mum said or did that somehow made everything easier, smoother or smarter.
We asked some of our Flowstars to share the lessons learned from their first teachers that have stuck with them and still guide them through life today. Here’s what they had to say:
Lizette Sutherland – senior UX/UI designer
“My mum taught me how to sew and adjust or fix clothes, rather than throwing them out.”
Lesego Khutsoane – project manager
“Growing up, my mother used to shower me with hugs and kisses daily. At some point it annoyed me, but I appreciated it later in life. I do that, too, with my kids so they feel loved. I also do it with our relatives and am known as the kisser in the family. So much love to give, ha ha!”
Tiffany Turkington-Palmer – managing director
From my grandmother: “Always wear silk underwear, because you NEVER know …”
Thrishni Subramoney – senior communications specialist
“My mother taught me to read. She never sounded out words or taught me the alphabet. We just spent a lot of time reading together. So, it might have been via osmosis.”
Caroline Smith – head of PR
“My mum taught me to peel potatoes onto newspaper so that when you’re done, you can just pick up the newspaper, fold it over the potato peelings and neatly put it all into the compost heap – saving time, energy and cleaning.”
Allison MacDonald – senior PR account director
“Get an education. Nobody can take that from you. Ever.” #ThingsMyMomToldMe
“Love him as much as you like, darling. But make sure you have your own money.” #ThingsMyMomToldMe
Deon Takpuie – software developer
“My mum has this one quote that always stuck with me: “Forwards ever, backwards never.”
The other one I’ll never forget is: “Perseverance is the mother of success.”
Also, my mum always says, “God helps those who help themselves”, and “If you do something for others, you do it for yourself.”
Sue Blaine – senior writer and editor
“If there’s one thing I learnt from my mom, it’s to take small pauses in the day for what I call ‘happy moments’. Smell the salt on the breeze (we grew up in Somerset West – there was almost always a breeze) while you hang up the laundry, enjoy the sunlight filtering through the trees as you drive to get the kids from school, notice the kaleidoscope of colours in soap bubbles while you wash the dishes. I do that now, and I’m forever grateful.”