Thanks, mom. Seriously, some of us owe the lady who has been in our lives since day one all the appreciation. She's been there through thick and thin — the days of high school when you'd argue over everything, and the shopping trips you'd take on the weekends. You two would split a smoothie, or talk about your shared love for art museums and sitcoms. With Mother's Day coming up, we're thinking about our moms more than ever, and how we turned out pretty rad thanks to their advice and unconditional love. Truth is, there's been times your mom was right and you're really only realizing it now.
You could always count on her to have your best interest in mind. Even when you didn't want to hear the wise advice she had to say, you'd always take it a bit to heart. She'd drive you to soccer practice, and cheer you on from the sidelines at every game. Those bleachers couldn't have been comfortable, and she'd sit through all of your dance recitals, too.
Now, you're 20-something, and hoping there's still so much more advice to come. In the meantime, let's cue Taylor Swift's "The Best Day" and take a second to love our moms a little more. She was really right about these six things, and it's OK that you're only realizing it now.
Your mom has known since day one that you're going to make waves in this world. She may have reminded you on the reg you're capable of just about anything you set your heart and mind to. But, especially in high school, she'd tell you to not follow the crowd.
You didn't always listen, and might have taken to the latest trends just to fit in with a different friend group. Now that you're in the real world, though, you've realized that mom was right. If Regina George wore army pants and flip flops, you probably wouldn't go with it anymore.
I remember all of those sleepovers I had with my best friends growing up. Whenever our parents would come around, we'd pretend to be sleeping. We thought we were so sneaky, and didn't understand why getting a full night's rest was actually really underrated.
Being 20-something, we've come to realize that all those times when mom suggested we rest and recharge were much-needed. Sleep isn't for the weak, it's for the adults who know there's nothing better than feeling your best.
Along with staying up way too late came never waking up before noon. When you're out and about in the world until the break of dawn, it's hard to actually get up early and spend your weekend doing anything else but sleeping. If your mom was anything like mine growing up, she'd constantly tell you to seize the morning and make the most of your day. Since then, I've realized that waking up with the sun and sipping slowly on my cup of coffee really isn't so bad.
Your mom didn't want to see you wasting a second of a well-deserved Saturday, especially when you could be doing something together. Putting all of that time into your passions instead of your pillow is actually a good idea.
When our planners are packed, and we're juggling a social life, school, and somehow seeing someone new — well, it can be a lot. Finding a balance isn't always easy, and our moms were right when they told us to slow down and figure out our priorities.
You don't just want to see the roses, you want to stop and smell them a bit, too. Mom reminded us to be proactive, so that we're not rushing through life later on. Even her advice to not spread ourselves thin was too true, and now we're focusing on a few things that really matter instead.
All of those rainy April days, or cold winter months, you could always assume your mom would remind you to wear a jacket. She'd tell you to button it up a bit more, or that you're going to get sick if you face the snow without one. You probably got so tired of hearing the same old advice every day, and would symbolically carry your jacket out the door instead of putting it on.
Now you've come to realize that when the weather isn't so sweet, a jacket is your best friend. You'd never tell mom that she was right all along, but you should have taken her fashion advice. Not to mention, it came in handy that one time when you spilled coffee all over your new shirt. Do you think she'll know how to get the stain out, too?
Moms seemingly always know best when it comes to the dating world. Sure, they might not understand how to use Tinder, or the actual definition of "hooking up." But, they do know what their daughter deserves and won't let them settle for a partner who doesn't reach those standards.
Growing up, your mom would give you all sorts of advice from her personal experiences with relationships, and she was there when you needed a glass of wine after getting ghosted. You heard all of the stories about her high school boyfriends, and now find yourself taking her lessons about love before facing the dating scene once again. Chivalry never goes out of style, OK?
