7 Mindset Quotes Inspired by my Mom: A Strong Woman

My mother, well, she’s my hero. A single mom of seven devoting her entire life to making sure that her kids have a life she couldn’t. She accomplished that and so much more. There were a lot of ups and downs that my mother had to face in her lifetime, and she overcame them all.

On this international women’s day, I want to honor the bravest most strongest woman that I know by sharing seven [her favorite number] mindset quotes I picked up by watching my mother.

“COURAGE IS NOT THE ABSENCE OF FEAR BUT THE TRIUMPH OVER IT.” -Nelson Mandela

My mom was at a crossroads in her life. She knew that the 3 jobs she had at the time could not sustain her 7 kids any longer, and it wouldn’t be practical enough to continue to work this way and still not make ends meet. She had an opportunity to attend school. She was urged to do nursing or something that would guarantee success. My mom, she always had her eye on the prize, that was flexibility to be a mom and be available for her children while supporting them. She knew nursing wouldn’t give her that. She chose to go to barber school. She was advised that this would not work. That she would never be able to support her kids this way. She faced fear and opposition dead in the eyes and chose courage over it. 21 years later and my mom owns a successful barbershop. A barbershop that became the means to take care of her family.

My moms example has made me courageous. In the back of my mind I don’t see impossibilities, I see obstacles that can be overcome by courage.

“Life is tough my darling, but so are you.” -Stephanie Bennet Henry

When I was younger, one of my favorite things to say was “that’s not fair!” I always thought my mom was being so unfair. She was a tough one. A single mom to seven, she had to be. She knew that if she didn’t have a reign on things, we could slip right through her fingers. Therefore, my relationship with her was a bit strained in my teen years. I didn’t understand her. I thought she was out to make my life impossible. So in all of my stubborn moments [wow did I have a ton of them] I would yell “that’s not fair.” In which she would always reply “life is not fair.”

I get it now. All of these years later, as a mother myself. I get it now. I get her. She was right. Life was not fair. And if there was anyone who knew it best, it was her. She didn’t deserve some of the hardships she had to go through in her life. Her example of making the best out of what she’d been given is something I carry with me all of the time. Her ability to expect life to throw punches and her readiness to fight back is one that I admire with all of my heart. I’ve learned in my own life, that life is tough, but thanks to my mom, I’ve learned to be tougher!

You will never look back on life and think “I spent too much time with my kids.” -Kimberly Mcoed

My mom has taught me the value of the time that I have with my kids. She had a way of always making us feel seen. It didn’t matter how busy she was, we felt her presence and she was always, I mean always aware of ours. Still til this day, all of us adults now with families, and she lights up with all of her kids in her presence.

I think about this often. I think about how my kids are growing up and how every second with them counts. How I want the days to be long so that I could enjoy them. I want them to one day look back and know that being with them meant everything to me. And one day when they are grown, with their own families, I hope they feel the way I feel with my mom, invited, loved and wanted.

Dreams won’t work unless you do. -Unknown

My mom actually used to tell me this statement “God helps those who help themselves.” She wasn’t ever afraid of hard work. She believed that God was always with her, helping her along the way, but she believed most importantly that she had to take the initiative. Still til this very day, my mom works really hard. She doesn’t even really know how to relax since she’s worked so hard all of her life. She made me realize at a young age that if you wanted something to happen, you had to work hard for it. It wasn’t just going to get handed over to me.

I most definitely get my hard work ethic from her. I don’t believe that someone is going to hand me over what I want. If I want to pursue my dreams, I need to back that up with hard work.

Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.

My mom always had a way of making our life feel beautiful no matter how busy life was and how tired she was. We built memories. She took us places. She gave us experiences I now know she couldn’t always afford. But she wanted us to live and she wanted us to experience life. I treasure the trips to McDonalds that we took after every time she got a paycheck. I cherish the trips we took to Disneyland and the fair. I cherish the way she supported all of our cheerleading endeavours during high school. How involved she was in creating all of my dresses for proms and formals that I designed. Every little moment that she made a big moment out of.

If there’s one thing that I’ve always tried to do as a parent, it’s to give my kids experiences the wouldn’t forget. The little ones and the big ones. As busy as it may be, living life with my family is my biggest passion. Creating unforgettable moments they will cherish forever. I work hard when I’m working, but my kids know that when it’s time to play…I’m all in!

And though she be but little, she is fierce. -Shakespeare

I’ve always been small and one of the things my mom has always encourage me to do is to embrace it. She would always joke with me and say “how could such great things come from a small body.” I realized that I could do anything and be anything that I wanted to be. And although others may see me as small [because of my stature, it didn’t have to define who I was.

Here’s to strong women. May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them.

Being one of 5 girls that my mom had to raise, watching the strength that she built in each one of us gives me the foundation that I need to also raise my daughter. I never imagined having a daughter. I feel such great responsibility to teach her to be gentle, loving, and strong. But I know that if I could just be an ounce of what my mom was to me, then I would be leading her by example.

Cheers to all of the amazing women who empower, strengthen, challenge, equip, and love others so well. May we know them, may we be them, may we raise them. [In honor of International Women’s Day]