We NEED ALL The Women Out There!
Happy Mother’s Day!
I’ve been thinking about my mom, Anne, lately as I run my business. This picture is of her in her early twenties. She passed away almost a decade ago, but a day doesn’t go by that I don’t think of her.
You see, as a financial professional, much of what I do involves solving problems. Sometimes it’s helping clients resolve a situation with their beneficiaries. Sometimes it’s helping people execute a rollover or some other type of complex transaction. Often, it’s helping people figure out how to save or invest for the kind of lifestyle they want to live. You get the idea. To do this, I draw on my years of education, training, experience, and the help of my amazing team.
And much of the time, I draw on the example set by my mom.
Whenever I’m confronted with a particularly difficult problem, I think of my mother. Why?
Because mothers are some of the world’s greatest problem solvers! Here are just some of the monumentally difficult problems mothers, and other women (think teachers, nurses, doctors, physical therapists, financial advisors, you get the point) are uniquely gifted at finding solutions for:
“How to get my baby to go to sleep.”
“How to take care of my family while progressing in my career.”
“How to comfort my child when she is bullied in school.”
“How to raise several children at once, each with their own physical and emotional needs.”
“How to pay for my child’s education.”
“How to help my child make new friends.”
“How to keep my child safe while ensuring she has the freedom to explore the world.”
“How to know when to push my child to do better, and when to let him make mistakes.”
“How to talk to my child about sex.”
“How to get my teenager to talk to me at all.”
“How to be a teacher, doctor, therapist, coach, chef, chauffeur, and role model…all at once!”
“How to put my child first while still finding time for me.”
“How to balance his schedule, her schedule, and my schedule every day.”
“How to fix this faucet, balance that checkbook, and change that tire …all in the next two hours!”
“How to run a business and a household when I’m so tired.”
“How to spend thousands on my kids every year while saving thousands for retirement.”
“How to cope with the feeling that I can’t be everything for everyone.”
“How to help my child when he’s a parent, too…so he’ll do even better than I did.”
“How to be happy…while making sure my child is happier still.”
When I think about all the problems my mom had to find a solution for – and this list doesn’t even scratch the surface – it makes me realize three things:
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- There’s no problem I personally can’t solve…because chances are, my mother solved an even more difficult one.
- Whenever I’m confronted with a problem, there’s probably no guide, course, or self-help book more valuable than my mom’s own example.
- How extremely, exceedingly, enormously, immensely, tremendously, massively, monumentally grateful I am for my mother.
Mothers truly are the world’s greatest problem solvers. They teach others how to be good problem-solvers, too! When faced with problems, moms can teach us:
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- The importance of time management.
- How to take things one step at a time.
- To always ask for help when we need it.
- How to plan and prepare for every eventuality.
- That patience pays off and practice makes perfect.
- To remember what’s truly important in life.
- And most of all, that our greatest resource, asset, gift, and power is love.
Not every mother does all these things! But each mother has a gift unique to them! And if you didn’t, or don’t, have a relationship with your mom, I’d bet there’s been a woman in your life that has been a role model for you. It might take a minute to come up with a name, but I’d encourage you to take a little time to reflect. And when you come up with a name (or maybe even names), I’d encourage you to reach out to them and tell them thank you.
This Mother’s Day, I’m so grateful for my mom. I’m grateful for her problem-solving skills. Her talents. Her work ethic. Her love. So, to all the women out there, I wish you a very happy Mother’s Day (even if you’re not a mom – I promise you there is someone looking up to you!) Thanks for everything you are and everything you do.
I love you, mom! And miss you!
