Do Tell: What Did Your Mother Teach You About Respect?

May 7, 2009

"Respect" isn't just an awesome song by Aretha Franklin. It's a seemingly simple word loaded with meaning, from showing respect for our elders to seeking respect at work to demanding respect in relationships. In the Respect Campaign of the Family Violence Prevention Fund, it means respecting yourself and your loved ones in order to avoid resorting to violence or emotional abuse.

So in honor of Mother's Day and the Respect mission, tell me: what lessons did you learn from your mother about respecting yourself and others?

Source

17 Comments

dikke kus 3 years 48 weeks

Respect is a hard thought to put in writing. I know my mother did a great job of teaching me respect, since I got a hard lesson or two about what that means. She had a great way of telling me and my sister exactly what she thought of everything and everyone and she was always right. Sometimes it could get downright ugly but you learn. If I ever yelled, hit or screamed at my mother she made it clear it would be the last time you ever made that mistake. If I wanted I could leave. it was her house. Those lessons also spanned to my brother and sister. My mother was educated and came from a military family. My father came from a wealthy family and worked himself to death to make his own way in life. I learned to respect both of them and others like them early on. I have seen some things I don't understand between other people and how they interact. I am glad my mother never put up with any shit like I see other people doing. I don't put up with any either. Thank God for my mother.

vanitypot 4 years 1 week

Never put anyone down and even the lowliest person on the street deserves respect as much as a country's president deserves.. :)Always remember to follow your gut/heart/instinct especially when you feel someone (e.g. your man) has lost his/her respect for you..Respect should be given all the time to anyone; like a gift, you don't have to expect something in return.. meaning, you can't please everyone and expect everyone to respect you as much as you respect them..

vanitypot 4 years 1 week

Never put anyone down and even the lowliest person on the street deserves respect as much as a country's president deserves.. :) Always remember to follow your gut/heart/instinct especially when you feel someone (e.g. your man) has lost his/her respect for you.. Respect should be given all the time to anyone; like a gift, you don't have to expect something in return.. meaning, you can't please everyone and expect everyone to respect you as much as you respect them..

totygoliguez 4 years 1 week

The main thing that my mom taught me about respect is that you have to respect your self first, because if you respect yourself you won't allowed any one to disrespect you

sidra5397 4 years 1 week

My mom taught me that respect is a two-way street and that, in most everyday cases, even I don't like someone's opinions I should respect the fact that they are entitled to them.

kia 4 years 1 week

My mother taught me what it is like to not have much respect for yourself. I feel for my mother and the constructs of her world that she has helped establish. I have done a decent job of learning about respect in the world and I still hope it is not too late for my mother to learn her lessons.

aimeeb 4 years 1 week

You have to give it to get it.

telane 4 years 1 week

She taught me to respect everyone but ultimately not myself. To put others' needs (specifically hers) before my own. She taught me that you can't force someone to respect you. Most often that ends in making the person resent you. Great lessons, Mom.

Deidre 4 years 1 week

That there is a HUGE difference between common courtesy and respect. Courtesy is due to everyone you ever come across in life (please, thank you, acknowledging people like they're human beings). Respect, however, has to be earned ("esteem for or a sense of the worth or excellence of a person").

GlowingMoon 4 years 1 week

Same here -- I learned very little about respect from my Mom. I learned that on my own.

Hiding55 4 years 1 week

My mother just taught me to be nice to people and to respect everyone including the busboy at the restaurant and the janitor at the mall. Everyone. There's not too much separating us after all. Now I just have to teach my mother how to respect herself after all these years.

margokhal 4 years 1 week

- You have to earn respect. You earn it by demanding and projecting it on others. When you show you're respectable, then people will give you respect. - Don't compromise your beliefs just to fit in, and especially if they're going to endanger your life and/or health. Or if you know deep down that they're just stupid. You don't follow stupidity. - Once you lose respect, it's nearly impossible to get it back. Do right by people and don't give them a reason not to respect you. - Have some dignity and grace. Demanding respect doesn't give you the right to be a bitch about getting it. [My mother would have never said that exactly...substitute the "bitch" for something "a little more ladylike!" haha.]

margokhal 4 years 1 week

queenegg 4 years 1 week

NOTHING!! My mother has no respect for herself, so she could never teach anyone else. I guess that's why she's still a sl** and loves any "man" more than any of her children. Now seriously, let's give me some giggleness because I need it after being reminded what a crap mother I have.

queenegg 4 years 1 week

kty 4 years 1 week

-that when a man loves and respect you,he doesn't treat you like shit.-you should respect your elders and listen to their advice.-if you want others to treat you right,you should first do it to them,and don't expect praises for every single good thing you do.-respect is earned,not free given so you have to work hard to get it.-respect start with trust,you can't respect someone you don't trust.

kty 4 years 1 week

-that when a man loves and respect you,he doesn't treat you like shit. -you should respect your elders and listen to their advice. -if you want others to treat you right,you should first do it to them,and don't expect praises for every single good thing you do. -respect is earned,not free given so you have to work hard to get it. -respect start with trust,you can't respect someone you don't trust.

Link Love

17 Comments

You Might Also Like