9 Insanely True Pieces of Mom Wisdom

Moms: They can’t always be right beside us when we need them, but that doesn't mean we're not hearing their voices in our heads all day. If your mother happens to be anything like mine, her mom wisdom is so firmly ingrained in your brain that you're probably hearing it on repeat and will spout it off to your friends at random. I'm constantly reminding my friends to apply sunscreen since my mom hammered it into my head at a young age. But of course, it took learning the hard way via a gruesome sunburn on my scalp during a family vacation one summer before I finally stopped ignoring my mom's warnings, which is why now you can always count on me to pass the SPF 70. Thanks, mom!

Now that I'm older and have a son, I find myself with a strong desire to pass all the advice my mom gave me onto him. I know that there will be times where he'll doubt what I'm saying to him (just the way that I doubted the advice my mom gave me), and how when he does, it's just a part of him growing up. I know he'll become his own person who is fully capable of making his own decisions and following his own path without asking for my my input, and he'll know that any advice I offered to him came from a place of care and love. If you're a mom, you know how strong the desire can be to give guidance and support to others, so we partnered with Puffs Plus Lotion to present some pieces of "mom advice" that can help anyone! As always, you can feel free to take it or leave it, but we're going to go ahead and recommend that you take it.

1. Act confident.

Even if you don’t necessarily feel that way. There will be some days you would rather slink into a dark, wet hole for all of time than face the real world, but keeping your chin up, shoulders back, and mind focused will help you not only look like a boss, but feel that way, too.

2. You can never be too prepared.

There are some things that are always worth prepping for, like bandages for an unexpected fall, a chocolate bar for emergency provisions, and a box of Puffs Plus Lotion in each room of the house in case your allergies act up, or that sad movie really does make you cry!

3. Those shoes are cute, but can you walk in them?

We've all fallen victim to an incredible sale, and there's no doubt that also means we've felt a severe case of buyer's remorse after. Those sexy heels that you scored on clearance won’t do you a lick of good if you don’t know how to walk in them or if they leave you covered in blisters. No matter the style, buy well-fitting shoes that you can be comfortable and confident in, and own it.

4. Have cash on you. At. All. Times.

Debit cards are great, but always keep a bit of cash in your purse, because heaven forbid you find out that your time-consuming latte order was cash-only.

5. Posture is more important than you realize.

This is a big one, friends: No slouching. Shoulders back. Head up. See #1 above — good posture is good for your body and also helps you exude confidence.

6. Dress for the job you want.

You don’t have to go as far as your grandmother did by wearing pantsuits to the grocery store, but look presentable. You never know who you're going to meet during the work day, and looking put together is never a bad thing.

7. Learn to love cooking.

Takeout is a beautiful thing, but challenging yourself to spend a night trying out a new recipe or perfecting an old family one is wonderful, too. Cook alone. Cook together. Burn things, curse and cry, wipe your tears, and try again. You'll be so glad you did.

8. Keep in touch with people you care about.

Remember snail mail? Give it a shot with someone you've fallen out of touch with and let them know that you genuinely appreciate their act of kindness, or are thinking of them, or whatever it may be. Good friendships are too important to let slip away.

9. Try your best to brighten someone's day.

Smile at a stranger, pay a genuine compliment, hold the door, or offer a friend a ride... just remember that these good deeds will come back to you tenfold.

This post is sponsored by Puffs Plus Lotion.

Images: Fotolia (mkchoksi, Monkey Business, laboko, beeboys, Alexey Rotanov, geargodz, Syda Productions, Photographee.eu, Mikkel Bigandt, djile)