1. Be with people who encourage you to be better

As you grow and develop yourself, the last thing you need is toxic people who are going to put you down. My mom taught me how important it is to be friends with people who make you feel good about yourself.

2. Don’t trust someone that doesn’t tip the waiter

My mom was a waitress and she knows you can tell a lot about someone by the way they treat waiters and waitresses. Believe it or not: she’s right. So take notes next time you go out with someone.

3. Wear sunscreen

If my mom could be limited to teaching only one lesson this would be it. I could have the most painful, blistering sunburn ever and I’m more afraid of my mom seeing it than the actual pain of the sunburn.

4. Never be ashamed of what you love

Everyone is interested in different things. But sometimes, especially as kids, we really want to fit in and have everyone like us. While my mom and I are into very different things and have different opinions about pretty much everything; I know for a fact she would never what me to change what I love or what I believe to make someone like me.

5. Be open to new things

My mom has taught me to step out of my comfort zone and try things that scare me. When I was a freshman in high school I really wanted to join this literary magazine. I poked my head in the classroom and it was all upperclassmen and I was so scared I ran out and called my mom to come pick me up. She knew this magazine was something I really wanted and she made me march right back in there and introduce myself. I was in the magazine all four years of high school after that.

6. Do nice things for others

Surrounding yourself with good people is important (see number 1) but doing nice things for these people is important too. Not only is it gratifying to help someone, but what goes around comes back around and you might need help that person in the future. It’s good to have people on your side no matter what.

7. Do nice things for yourself

This one is very important for my mom. She’s a very hard working lady with three girls and a classroom full of kindergartners but she knows how to treat herself right. It can be in the smallest ways like drinking your morning coffee in bed or watching the Real Housewives for a few minutes. My mom knows that if you don’t treat yourself right every now and then you might actually go crazy… which is not productive to say the least.

8. Don’t rely on others for happiness

This one is huge for my mom. She knows how to make herself happy. She’s taught me that some people in your life won’t be there forever and it’s so important that you don’t rely on other people for happiness. She’s taught me that sometimes you’re not happy and that’s okay. She’s taught me that sometimes people can help you back on your feet and that’s okay too. But she’s also taught me how to find things that relax me and make me happy that I can do for myself all on my own no matter what, which has been a very valuable lesson for me.

9. Take care of yourself

My mom has taught me how important it is to care of yourself both physically and emotionally. She’s taught me that taking care of yourself can lead to happiness and growth as a person. She’s taught me that you’re the most important person in your life and you have to be good to yourself as a result.

10. Sometimes you have to deal with people you don’t like

One time in school a teacher made me cry and I told my mom because I wanted her to call the school and get her fired or something. But my mom told me that sometimes in life you have to deal with people you don’t like. She said whether it’s a teacher today or a boss tomorrow, it’s important to learn how to deal with people and be respectful of them.

11. Don’t let something scare you just because it isn’t easy

I’ve seen my mom face all kinds of adversity throughout the course of my childhood. She deals with all kinds of things that would make others want to give up. My mom doesn’t give up easily, though, she knows what needs to be done and she does it. Things have happened in my life and I’ve turned to my mom for help. There have been times in which I’ve had problems my mom wasn’t familiar with or didn’t really understand. But, in so many words, she tells me she is there for me and we’ll figure it out together.

12. Be completely, totally and shamelessly you

Like I’ve said my mom and I are very different but that doesn’t mean she hasn’t taught me a lot about being yourself. My mom is proud of who she is and I know she’s proud of who I am too. She’s taught me that if something makes you happy and it’s not hurting you or anyone, you can’t let people tell you it’s wrong. You have to be you.

13. Be the girl your future daughters can look up to

I don’t know if I’ll ever have daughters, or kids, or even get married. But my mom has taught me to prepare for this my whole life, by being a role model. My mom is a teacher, tutor, and babysitter so she has a lot of young people looking up to her. She has taught me to think about the people watching me and if I’m being a good example for them. I think my mom has been thinking like that her whole life. Maybe that’s why she’s such a strong mom.