How has your mother figure shaped your life? (Picture: Getty Images)
With Mother’s Day coming up tomorrow, it’s a time to show our appreciation for the mums, grandmas and mother figures who’ve shaped our lives.
According to new research, they’ve played a big part in making us who we are, with 82% of Brits claiming they’ve learnt their best piece of advice from their matriarch.
Almost a quarter of the 2,000 people surveyed by skincare brand Fenjal admitted they’d rather ask their mum for advice than their other half, while respondents were three times more likely to go to mum for guidance than a friend.
Londoners were most likely to call their mother figure first when they needed help – twice as likely as Northerners, in fact – although this might be down to the high proportion of people who move to the city from elsewhere and therefore can’t chat in person.
There was also a gender divide, as 28% of women polled chose their mum, whereas one in five men said their partner was top choice for counsel.
It proves how valued maternal heart-to-hearts are, but when it comes to the wisdom treasured most, simple encouragement won the day.
Kidness and self-confidence were key themes (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
The survey asked people the words their mums had imparted that had stayed with them through the years, and top of the list was to be kind; not just to others but to yourself too.
Confidence and self-belief were major themes, but asking for help and looking out for others also scored highly.
Absent from the rankings were ‘never turn the big light on,’ and ‘don’t forget your jacket,’ which clearly weren’t as formative for participants.
The UK’s top 10 pieces of motherly advice
Have confidence (22%)
Always ask for help if you need it (21%)
Appreciate everything you have (21%)
Education is important (20%)
Stay true to who you are/beliefs (20%)
Never lose your sense of humour (17%)
Strive to do good in the world (16%)
Be resilient (15%)
Be empathetic (14%)
Fenjal partnered with Strictly star Ola Jordan for the Mother’s Day campaign, and the ballroom dancer shared the helpful tips she got from her own mum and plans to pass down to her two-year-old daughter, Ella.
‘I have a great relationship with my mum, but she lives in Poland so our time together is extra special,’ said Ola. ‘When I had Ella she was someone I turned to for advice and I would call her all the time.’
She continued: ‘Growing up training to be a professional dancer, she always taught me to be strong, be confident and most importantly be happy. This advice stayed with me throughout my entire professional career and my personal life and it’s what I install into Ella daily.’
The Swiss company, which has been operating here in the UK for the last 60 years, is urging us all to give back to the special women in our lives this Mother’s Day.
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After all, they’ve given so much of their time to us, offering up some me-time is the least we can do.
Whether you make her breakfast in bed, draw her a bath, or give her a ring to tell her how much she means to you, make sure you hype up your mama as enthusiastically as she does with you.
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‘Be kind to yourself and others,’ made top spot.