Mothers' Best Parenting Advice

By Katie Thomas
Courtesy of Kyndal Costello
Readers share the most valuable parenting advice their moms ever gave them.
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Time Out!

Courtesy of Amanda Tygret

"Slow down and embrace it all. Take it all in, every moment. It goes by too quickly!" Best advice my mother ever gave me. -- Amanda Lazaros Tygret

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Babysitters' Club

Courtesy of Cathi Woods

"On the rough days, pretend you're the babysitter. Babysitters don't feel guilty for feeding the kids pizza and ice cream or letting them watch TV. And babysitters just have fun-- no dishes or laundry!" -- Cathi Johnson Woods

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Savor the Moment

Courtesy of Sirena Pettersen

She always told me to play more than you clean the house. Dirty your clothes with your kiddos more than you do laundry. Because the house and chores will always remain, but your kids won't and time flies by too fast. -- Sirena Pettersen

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Not Always a Walk in the Park

Courtesy of Alice Aga

"You can't expect parenting to be easy, Alice. You need to really work at your children. They learn first from you and Chad, so what you teach them from the beginning is what they will always remember." -- Alice Aga

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Let Imagination Lead

Courtesy of Kim Russo

Mom said, "Get down to their level and think like them while playing with them; it's the best feeling and so much for fun for all of you that way!" That's now the only way I play with my four boys. Watching their faces and the way they think while they're playing is the most amazing thing ever! -- Kim Rumohr Russo

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Power of Now

Courtesy of Amy Dunham

I was feeling overwhelmed being a first-time mother and my mom asked, "Amy, what do you need to do right this second that is vital?" And I said, "Nothing, just hold and rock my baby." She replied, "Just do that until you're done, and then do the next thing." In other words, stop worrying in advance. Just be in the moment. The exact moment. -- Amy Lee Walters Dunham

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Moms Know Best

Courtesy of Katelyn Johnson

"Follow your gut instinct--no matter what." -- Katelyn E. Johnson

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A Mother's Instinct

Courtesy of Felicia Masas

"Only you know when something's wrong with your kid. Listen to your gut, no matter how many times the doctor turns you down. You know you child better than anybody in this world does." -- Felicia Masas

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Freak-Out-Free Zone

Courtesy of Christina Wagner

My mom told me, "Don't freak out when they get hurt. If you're calm, you can calm them down faster." -- Christina Wagner

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Real-World Ready

Courtesy of Susan Massengill

That your child "will be potty trained, eat with a fork, drink from a cup, be done with pacifier, and sleep in his own bed by his wedding day!" -- Susan James Massengill

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Know What's Important

Courtesy of Hollie Marble

That it's better to have a happy, well-cared-for child than to have a spotless house. -- Hollie M. Marble

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Where's the Instruction Manual?

Courtesy of Brenda Walker

My mom always taught me that children do not come with instructions. But to always remember that love comes with discipline and discipline comes with love! -- Brenda Walker

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TLC

Courtesy of Melissa Steele

My mother said, "Kiss and hug your kids every day and tell them how much you love them." And every morning and at bedtime I do. -- Melissa Steele

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Spoiled Happy!

Courtesy of Mary Mae Shepard

"It's okay to spoil your kids as long as you spoil them with love and attention and not with possessions and material things." -- Mary Mae Shepard

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Always Learning

Courtesy of Marissa Sikder

My mom told me, "Being a mom doesn't mean you automatically know everything; it means you're willing to be a student and a teacher at the same time, because every day challenges you with something new." I live by this with my son. -- Marissa Cabani Sikder

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Crazy in Love

Courtesy of Kyndal Costello

"Remember to not put your kids ahead of your husband; it will destroy your marriage and ultimately hurt your kids. That being said love them like crazy." -- Kyndal Costello

Copyright &copy 2010 Meredith Corporation.

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