Monday, 14 May 2007

Poignant Lessons

One of the best shows (I actually think there were 2 shows) that Oprah ever did was about a mother who was dying of cancer. She had a young daughter and she knew she didn't have time to teach and the young girl wasn't ready to learn all the lessons that a mother teaches her daughter over a lifetime. So she made videos. There are hours and hours of this mother talking to her daughter teaching her the important skills for life.

The lessons included:

  • How to put on makeup
  • How to shave your legs
  • How to put on panty hose (tights)
  • How to dance
  • How to dress for a date and a job interview
  • How to pick a college
  • What to look for in a husband
  • Clothing basics that should be in every woman's closet
  • When to splurge on quality and when to make do
  • When to respect authority and when to rebel against the machine
  • How to ask for a raise
  • When to quit a job and when to stick it out
As I watched this, I thought of all the things my mother has taught me. Some of these skills I use and some I have tailored to meet my own individuality. Some of it is no longer relevant (you don't have to wear gloves anymore)!

Thanks Mom!

2 comments:

Janell said...

I wonder if a daughter listens any better to a vidoetaped Mom than they do to the live ones?
JC

stephanie said...

I loved that show. It was tear-jerking, gut-wrenching and inspiring.