Mom always used to say, “A small act of kindness makes a big difference.” I never quite understood the full weight of those words until one year, when my sister, my mom, and I put together care packages for people in need. It was through a school project, but it ended up being so much more than just a task. It turned into one of those moments that stayed with me, reminding me how even the smallest gestures can have a lasting impact.

Growing up, my mom had a way of turning any chore into something almost fun. She’d always say, “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.” At first, I had no idea what she meant, but it quickly became clear. Whenever my sister and I faced the daunting task of cleaning our rooms, instead of the usual “Clean your room!” which felt like a never ending mountain of work, she’d say “Pick a corner!” She made it a game where we’d focus on one small area at a time, and suddenly, the giant mess didn’t seem so overwhelming. It was all about breaking down the big tasks into little, manageable steps.

As a kid, I didn’t always look forward to the weekly visits with my great grandmother. My sister and I would grumble about the time it took away from our summer break, and I didn’t fully understand why my mom was so insistent. But looking back now, I realize those visits were the “ounce of prevention” in a much bigger picture. The simple act of showing up with hot cocoa in hand, sitting down to ask my great grandmother about her younger days, was a small effort that became a rich and lasting connection.

One of the sayings my mom always told me was, “Healing starts with a calm heart.” I remember hearing it most clearly when I was in elementary school. I had broken my ankle while skipping down the stairs (classic kid move, right?) I was in a lot of pain, but as soon as my mom showed up at school, she stayed calm, and told me everything would be okay. She didn’t panic, and that made all the difference for me. 

I can still picture the day we went to the animal shelter to find a new addition to our family. My sister and I had our hearts set on getting a new kitten, you know the tiny, fluffy playful ones. But my mom had a different idea. She reminded us that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and that sometimes the best choice isn’t always about picking something new. It wasn’t just about picking the cutest kitten; it was about looking beyond the surface and finding something that truly fit our family. And that's how we ended up meeting the cat who would steal our hearts.

My mom always used to say, “I say what I mean and I mean what I say,” and looking back, it was something I didn’t fully grasp until I learned it the hard way. I remember one particular instance when I was being especially sassy, talking back in a way that I knew would push her buttons. She warned me that if I spoke to her like that again, I wouldn’t be able to go to my friend’s sleepover. I didn’t take her warning seriously, I was certain she wouldn’t follow through.

My mom always says, “Every cloud has a silver lining,” and back then, I really didn’t believe her. Take sixth-grade camp, for example. I was dreading it from the moment I found out I had to go.I tried everything to get out of it, but my mom wasn’t having it. She made me go, and of course, it turned out to be a nightmare. I spent most of the week in tears, and my mom even got a couple of phone calls from my teacher. If there was ever a cloud over my head, that week was it.

When I was younger, my mom, my sister, my cousin, and I decided to take a weekend trip to Disneyland. We were so excited to get away, just us girls. But, of course, life had other plans. Our hotel stay was less than ideal. Imagine being woken up not once, not twice, but three times by the sound of fire alarms blaring throughout the night. Each time, we’d jump out of bed, throw on some clothes, and stand outside waiting for the all-clear, then go back into our rooms and try to sleep, only to have it happen again. It was exhausting, frustrating, and, honestly, a little ridiculous.

One of my mom’s favorite sayings is, “Be careful what you ask for, because you just might get it.” As a kid, I heard this a lot, especially when my sister and I would beg for something. We were persistent, and the more we begged, the more my mom would remind us of this proverb. The perfect example of this came when we begged for hamsters. We promised we’d take care of them, so eventually, after much convincing, my parents took us to the pet store to pick out our new furry friends.

One of my favorite memories from second grade was when my mom volunteered in my classroom. But it wasn’t just her being there that made the day so special, it was because she brought our little white dog with her. I remember she hid the dog under the table while we were all working, and whenever I’d look over, I’d catch a glimpse of her wagging her tail. It was such a small thing, but it was exactly the kind of surprise that made my day. 

Growing up, my mom always said, “There’s no place like home,” and I never really understood the full meaning of that phrase until much later in life. As a kid, I just thought of home as, well, home–where I lived, where I slept, and where I did my homework. But my mom created something much more than that. She made our house a safe haven, a place filled with warmth, love, and security. No matter how chaotic or stressful school life could get, I always knew I had a cozy, welcoming place to come back to at the end of the day.

When my sister and I had to start taking the bus to middle school, things were different. We lived on this big hill, and of course, the bus stop was at the bottom. Mornings weren’t so bad–we’d chat and walk down together, but afternoons were a whole other story. After a long day of school, the last thing we wanted to do was trudge up that hill. It felt like a never-ending climb, and we’d usually complain about how tough it was.