We are thrilled to share with you the six winners of the Land O’Frost Mother’s Day “Mom Advice” Contest! These women shared the best piece of advice they’ve ever received from their mom or another mom. With such wonderful advice, we wanted to share it with all of you, too!

Allison, East Greenwich, RI

Mom always told me to kill ‘em with kindness, but it wasn’t until until a fellow mommy friend told me you should always be kind, but you don’t always have to be nice that I realized the difference between the two.

Kindness is letting someone with only a few grocery items go ahead of you.  Kindness is cutting your elderly neighbor’s lawn.  Kindness is giving that mom whose child is having a meltdown that knowing look that says, “I get it and tomorrow will be better.”  As a new mom, I hope to teach my daughter that it’s more important to be kind than nice,  because sometimes–as woman–we get so caught up in always trying to be nice that we forget to look out for ourselves.

Anne, Amesbury, MA

My mom gave me the advice of always writing thank you notes.  There is nothing like a handwritten note to thank someone for something they did for you, no matter how small.  After every birthday and other special occasion in my life, my mom always sat me down and had me write out notes for everything I received.  I could never cash a check or use a gift until I wrote my notes.   As a smaller child, this task was tedious to me and I couldn’t wait to get them done.  However after I finished, I always felt good and enjoyed what I had received that much more.  It taught me to appreciate gifts or actions I was thankful for and sharing that with the person I received it from. I still write notes to this day.

Ellen, Custer, SD

Mom taught me, by example, to always remember what’s important. Now a mom myself, I know that it’s important that a family sits down to a nutritious meal together. It’s not so important that you spend hours preparing it, or even that you made it yourself. It’s important that your family sleeps in clean, comfortable beds. It’s not important that you be able to perfectly fold a fitted sheet. It’s important to make time for your family and friends when they need you, even if you don’t know exactly how to help or what to say. If you and your family have your health, then you truly have everything. Don’t let everyday concerns keep you from enjoying a moment of the precious day that’s been given to you. I love my mom for teaching me to live each day with gratitude for what’s important.

Ellen, Melbourne, FL

I’ll tell you the secret my mother told me.  She said choosing your attitude is the key. It’s okay to cry when the day seems too long.  And, some days everything is going to go wrong. On those days, try to laugh and smile.  Remember, it will all be gone in too short awhile. I told her there are days when I feel like I’m in a haze.  It’s those times I feel like I won’t be able to negotiate this maze. She said having a child is like running a race, where the goal is to keep a steady pace. Crossing the finish line is not how you win it.  You win it by loving every single minute.

She always gives me better advice than any other.  She’s a shining example of the best kind of mother.

Katherine, Miami, FL

“Choose your battles.”  This covers every area of life as Mommy.  Caring for my three kids (8yr girl, 6yr boy and 4yr boy) I am constantly trying to regain order, stop the yelling, and keep everyone “happy”.  At the beginning, I was loud and strict; it was killing me.  When I remembered these words everything cleared in head.  If I go after the biggest problems, then all the smaller ones just don’t seem so important anymore, and I can take a breath and enjoy my kids, play, sing, dance and most importantly LAUGH!

Lynn, Charleston, WV

My mother always said “Good Manners will carry you far.” I passed this on to my children. They said, “Absolutely right! Great to fall back on in job interviews, with teachers and professors, bosses, awkward social situations.” Now they are teaching their children, and often their friends.