She was your social secretary, nurse, financial advisor, chauffeur, chef, and sometimes even your unofficial therapist! You brought her a problem and she gave you a solution. You had questions and she had the answers (and usually a snack). For many of us, she still does have all the solutions and answers.

From reminders about the importance of clean underwear to the quiet insistence on handwritten thank you notes, our mothers shaped the rhythms of our lives in ways we’re still discovering. Mine would always remind me as a child to make my bed… every single morning. And, she didn’t just mean straighten the sheets. She meant hospital corners, fluffed pillows, the whole thing. She could have given any luxury hotel a run for its money. I’ll admit, I don’t always manage it now but on the days that I do? Slipping into a neatly made bed at night feels like a small, well-earned luxury! turns out she wasn’t just talking about tidiness, she was teaching care, pride, and good habits.

We asked around the Julianna Rae office, and gathered Mom’s advise from friends and family, and what came back was a mix of practical, hilarious and suprisingly profound advice. All proof that Mom always knew what she was talking about! Read on for what coworkers, friends and family said about what their Mothers advice and wisdom taught them…

• The importance of family dinners
• Search for the truth – about everything including yourself
• Never fry bacon in a tank top
• Eat well, often, and without guilt
• If you don’t appreciate what you have, more won’t fix it
• Make time for a soothing cup of tea
• Don’t be afraid to say “no” even if it has to be to your boss
• Life is too short to hold grudges
• It’s not only what you say but how you say it
• Be a great neighbor
• Manners cost nothing and mean everything
• Don’t buy what you cannot comfortably afford
• Will you remember this in five years?
• It’s okay to admit motherhood (and life) is hard
• Always secure your papers before turning on the ceiling fan
• You only have one reputation
• Handle your own battles, you are stronger than you think
• Never forget how it felt to be young and free
• Things will look better in the morning
• Never do anything you don’t want printed on the front page of the newspaper
• Shut the door – you weren’t born in a barn

And the ones we absolutley want to highlight?

• Wear the GOOD PJs and not just save them
• Apologize when you’re wrong and always mean it
• Keep something beautiful just for yourself
• Call home, even when everything is fine
• Put your phone down when you are with someone even your pet
• Celebrate small wins, they add up to a life
• Rest is productive, burnout helps NO ONE

So much of what Mom taught us seemed simple at the time but lingers, grows, and deepends with age. Sooner or later one day you will catch yourself repeating it. We hope we were able to bring back warm memories of the lovely Mom in your life and we’ll see you in the next blog!

Deb Fries works with the Julianna Rae team to offer the best shopping experience for quality silk and cotton sleepwear while also writing for the blog at Juliannarae.com.