These pieces of advice aren’t meant to point a finger at mothers for not giving all of the help their kids might have needed.
I’m not going to take it there.
This is just some mom advice that I think you and I both needed to hear growing up, but maybe our moms just didn’t think about them.
And that’s ok.
Mothers don’t need to think of everything. They already give plenty of great motherly advice.
But none the less, here are some of the things I wish I had been told growing up, and some thoughts that might be helpful for you right now.
1. Taking Care of Your Space is Taking Care of Yourself
I think it’s so easy to feel like you just don’t have the time to keep your room or your home clean.
It kind of feels like the chore your parents scolded you over, and for obvious reasons.
But in the end, it’s not just about looking good, it’s also about taking care of your mental and emotional health.
It’s about showing yourself some love and self-respect because you deserve to live in a space that makes you feel calm. One you like existing in.
2. What You’re Building up Now Is What Your Future Self Will Live In
It’s hard to get out of your head and see how the bad habits you have now will effect you in the future.
I’ve learned this so many times; all those things that felt so small added up in a huge way once I became an adult. And there was interest to pay.
So take some time and start to think through what beliefs and habits are building up a home you don’t want to live in once it’s finished.
I think this might just be the best piece of advice on this small list. Because once that home is created, it takes a lot of courage to start pulling it down.
3. Find a Way to Finance Your Dreams
It felt like everyone’s parents said the same thing, “You can be anything you want when you grow up.”
It’s not a bad thing to think or believe.
But I also think that encouraging yourself to find a way to make a good income so that you can more quickly live your dreams, and do the things that make you happy, is a great idea.
It’s not just, will I either do what I love or will I work a job I hate?
Sometimes, it’s just finding a well paying job that you don’t mind, and can help you pay for the things you really want to do in life.
4. Don’t Live Your Life Based on Another Person’s Opinion
It’s your life, you get to decide what it looks like.
Don’t base what you want, what you think, or what you believe based off of trying to impress people who don’t care about you.
They’re not even thinking about you when you’re thinking about them, so why give them the time of day?
Also, you don’t need to keep on trying to impress (or prove wrong) the people who aren’t in your life anymore. Don’t let them live rent free in your head, it’s time to evict.
Be mindful to get rid of anything that doesn’t fulfill you and help you to live out a life you’re actually happy in.
I hope these simple pieces of motherly advice were helpful to you.
I know that it can feel overwhelming when you’re on your own, and things don’t look like how you had wanted them to.
But it’s going to be ok, you’re going to be ok, and you’re going to figure it out. ♥️
PS – What are some of the best pieces of advice you ever received from your mom? What mom advice did she give you that changed the way you think or do things?
Grace Moser is the author and founder of Chasing Foxes, where she writes articles to help women create a life they love in big and small ways. She's been a full-time traveler since 2016 and loves sharing her experiences and exploring the world with her husband, Silas. Her lifestyle and travel advice can also be seen on sites such as Business Insider, Glamour, Newsweek, Huffpost, & Apartment Therapy.