GUIDE
THE ULTIMATE ADVICE FROM MOTHER MENTORS
TOP TIPS FROM MUMS, AUNTS, GRANDMOTHERS, MENTORS AND FRIENDS
APRIL 30TH, 2025
WORDS BY: COURTNEY NORRIS
IMAGES: HOUSE OF BIMBI & OTHER
GUIDE
THE ULTIMATE ADVICE FROM MOTHER MENTORS
TOP TIPS FROM MOMS, AUNTS, GRANDMA, MENTORS AND FRIENDS
APRIL 30TH, 2025
WORDS BY: COURTNEY NORRIS
IMAGES: HOUSE OF BIMBI & OTHER
As Mother's Day approaches, I find myself reflecting on all the small, powerful ways the women in our lives shape who we are.
Sometimes it’s the grand gestures we remember, the hugs after a hard day, the pep talks before a big decision, but often, it’s the simple advice, casually given, that lingers the longest.
Advice from a mother figure stays with you whispered during a moment of uncertainty, shouted from the sidelines of life, or repeated so often it becomes part of your inner voice.
Today, I’m honoring that timeless wisdom, and sharing some of the best pieces of advice that have been passed down, little lessons that continue to guide and ground us through the beautiful chaos of life.
1/ Trust your gut — it's louder than you think.
Forget the endless advice columns and mom forums.
One thing every wise woman has reminded me: You already know.
Your gut feeling? That’s your built-in compass. It's wiser than the loudest critic, the fanciest expert, or the nosiest stranger at the grocery store.
When in doubt: pause, breathe, and listen inward.
You’re stronger (and smarter) than you realise.
2/ Self-care isn’t selfish — it’s essential.
Mothers have an endless to-do list, but here’s the secret: you are on that list too.
If you're falling apart at the seams, no one wins.
Whether it’s a quiet coffee before the chaos starts, therapy sessions, a hot bath behind a locked door, or five minutes alone in your parked car (bless that car), taking care of yourself isn't a luxury — it’s survival. And it teaches the little ones that caring for yourself is normal and necessary.
3/ You don’t have to do it all alone.
Somewhere along the line, many of us picked up the idea that "strong" means "doing everything without help."
Wrong.
Strength is saying yes when someone offers a hand.
Strength is texting "I’m struggling" without shame.
Strength is letting your village show up for you — messy house, messy hair, messy life and all.
Because the truth is: you were never meant to do this alone.
4/ Count to four... and then laugh.
Kids (and life) will push every button you have. Maybe twice.
Before you explode, one tiny trick:
Count to four.
1…2…3…4.
It’s just enough time for a deep breath and a reminder: They’re learning. And so are you.
Bonus points if you can find a reason to laugh instead of lose it.
Because laughter diffuses more tension than yelling ever could.
5/ The mess means you’re doing it right.
Sticky floors, overflowing laundry baskets, wild hair, missing shoes — it’s not a sign you’re failing.
It’s a sign you’re living.
Life with kids is a beautiful tornado, and if you’re waiting for it to be tidy to enjoy it, you’ll miss it.
So sit in the messy living room. Take the blurry pictures. Snuggle before dishes.
One day, you’ll miss the mess more than you ever thought possible.
6/ Stop comparing — start celebrating.
There’s no prize for being the "perfect" mom.
(And spoiler: she doesn’t exist.)
Motherhood (and life) looks wildly different for everyone.
Some days you’re a Pinterest mom, some days you’re a "Cereal for Dinner" mom.
Both days, you’re doing amazing.
The only person you need to impress is the little face
looking up at you with stars in their eyes.
They think you’re magic — and they’re right.
7/ Never forget the power of play.
Some of the best parenting advice I ever got wasn’t about rules or routines — it was about play.
Get down on the floor. Get silly. Get loud.
Let them dress you up.
Let them teach you their latest dance move. Let yourself be ridiculous.
Because while we’re busy teaching kids how to live, they’re secretly teaching us how to really live.
8/ Keep learning, keep laughing, keep loving.
Motherhood doesn’t come with a manual — just a million tiny opportunities to learn, to grow, and to start fresh every single day.
Laugh a lot.
Forgive yourself even more.
And always — always — lead with love.
Because at the end of the day, that’s the only thing that matters.
FINAL THOUGHT
The best advice doesn’t always come from
traditional mothers sometimes it’s a grandmother’s
quiet wisdom, an aunt’s wild laughter,
a best friend’smidnight pep talk, or even a mentor’s gentle nudge.
Motherhood, in all its beautiful forms, is really just love in action.
It’s patience. It’s courage. It’s messy, imperfect devotion.
And maybe that’s the biggest lesson of all:
You don’t have to do it perfectly you
just have to show up with love.
That’s what they’ll remember.
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