'To understand a mom's feelings, you need to be one'

With Mother's Day coming up on May 13, we invited readers to share the best piece of advice their mothers ever gave them. Here is the next set of responses!

First up is Mrudula Wadake.

Well, I will say I never felt my mother's exact feelings till I became a mother, myself.

I always believed that if I have to achieve anything, I had to achieve it first and then talk about it. Till then only silence and suspense!

My mom is an inspiration to me and in my tough situations I always seek her blessings first and then God's.

So on those special events, I used to touch her feet before leaving home or used to call her and then without asking or saying anything, she'd realise that I am going for some exams / job interview or something to achieve which I am not going to disclose at all.

She never used to ask me any details and simply wish me luck.

The suspense was always maintained with a great confidence and her blessings always turned true for me.

And today, I actually don't know why but just felt like screaming this to the whole world (Thanks to Rediff!): Mom, today whatever I am is all because of YOU and of course my father who is not in this world to read this today and Baba, I miss you so much.

I am grateful to my mom and to all the mom's in the world!

And as my mom always said, truly, to understand a Mom's feelings, you need to be a Mom!

Happy Mother's day to all the Mom's in the world.

Tell us a special story about that one incident that reaffirmed your faith in your mother's judgement. Simply write in togetahead@rediff.co.in (subject line: 'My mother's advice'), because we'll be publishing the best entries right here onrediff.com

And if you can, do send in a photograph of you and your mom to publish alongside!

Mother's Day: Tell Your Mom How Much You Love Her!

Next up is Karishma Khanna telling us how her mother helped her overcome anger.

Days might be mundane, routine but they always carry enough space for spreading love and happiness. A mother is the biggest gift of God to mankind. She is full of wisdom, care, affection and ample knowledge to make her children's life heavenly.

It's a well-known saying that the Almighty could not be present everywhere, so he created mother but in my point of view even God cannot take the place of a mother. Dedicating a special day to all the great human beings known as Mothers. Happy Mother's Day!

On this special eve, I would love to share a very important yet learning experience of my life gifted to me by my best friend -- my mother.

My mother, Indu Khanna is just like any other mother in this world: Loving, caring, passionate about her family.

But there is one more thing common amongst all mothers. They being an integral part of our lives, keep helping us, (either intentionally or unintentionally) to improve us as human beings. I am sure it happens with each one us. Yes, even with you Sir/Madam who is reading my article.

The learning experiences gifted to us by our mothers are so beautiful that a talkative person like me cannot leave an opportunity to share it with the world. So here it is...

It was a fun Sunday morning at home. Sundays are not just relaxing days, but also officially the 'Good Food' day i.e majority of the household have the best menu planned on Sunday, special delicacies etc. It was a another routine Sunday and mummy had planned chana bhatura for breakfast. I was all happy as like any Punjabi I love chana bhatura. But then suddenly my joy vanished as the door bell rang and at the door were our uninvited, unexpected guests. To my bigger shock they were here to stay.

Quickly, my mother made way for the kitchen, and started her preparations for never ending food supply for our 'Dear Guests'. By the way let me make it clear it was just me, whose mood was blown like the bhatura I expected for my breakfast. My parents were genuinely happy at the arrival of guests and willingly/unwillingly I had to be present in the kitchen not just to follow our traditions of marriageable girls look best in kitchen, but also to lend a hand to my mother. But let me tell you it requires great strength to see your lovely Sunday turning into a worse Monday.

Till now everything was tolerable, and I was somewhat adjusting to the situation when suddenly I had the chef cap handed over to me. I was required to not just serve, but make bhaturas. This time my face blew fatter; I didn't say no to my mother, but my body language conveyed all. I was irritated not just because of the uninvited guests' arrival but for wasting my whole day in the kitchen. Somehow I started working wihout any dedication. I was in super-hurry to complete my work, to serve the guests and run away to my room.

I gave no respectto my work. As a result it lacked love and not much to my surprise my bhaturas were not up to the mark. Somehow mummy, who was busy preparing few other delicacies came to my rescue and made my bhaturas look worth the table. Though I served them I couldn't forget the resentment, irritation with which I made them. I was preparing the food in a hurry, because I just wanted to get rid of this job.

I did not even think once for the people who will be eating it. I just didn't carry a positive attitude, there was no dedication and affection in my cooking. As anticipated by my mother, none of the guests liked the bhaturas I made and they could not complete eating even one bhatura in peace. One of the lady guests coughed till midnight due to excessive oil in the bhaturas.

In a hurry to complete my job, I forgot to wipe off the extra oil. As it is said, a mother need no language to understand you. Similarly, my mother just made up for my blunder bhaturas by serving something much better and edible to guests. She allowed me to excuse myself from the scene. After the guests were gone and everything settled down mummy came to me and hugged me tight. At first I could not understand but before I could say anything mummy spoke 'Karishma, where was your heart, while you were preparing the bhaturas?'

I felt numb.

As far as I know all we require to make bhaturas is oil and dough. What has heart got to do with it? To this my mummy replied 'every task of your life, whether you are working in your kitchen or office, requires your heart. Your true heart not just offers love and honesty to your work, but it spreads positive vibes in the environment. No job is too big or tough that cannot be completed.

All we require is a loving zeal to act. Putting the same logic in my case, mummy explained, that I was so angry that I just did not try to mix my love in the batter of bhaturas. It is not only great ingredients that makes food delicious; it is also love that we serve alongside our dish. mummy told me that any work done like a burden, will never reap fruitful results. Somewhere or the other you will lack and fail but a task done with full dedication, love, positivity and a smile will always be successful.

I guess I was mature enough to understand her point.

And then mummy told me a secret about why people just love the food cooked by their mothers. People find the food cooked by their mothers the best in the entire world because it is cooked and served with large chunks of love, care and affection.

The lesson I learnt through this whole episode has surely left its spark on me. I am sure to always keep this lesson in mind that love, dedication, honest feelings and a smile are the most important contents for any successful task.

Happy Mother's Day

Next is Archana Lokesh expressing her gratitude for all the mothers in this world.

This is a real good thought by Rediff to invite us to express our gratitude to all the mothers of society. I would like to share few lines about MY MOM.

My mom is a very simple and down-to-earth person. She has taken every effort to teach us what life really means. She feels: The top secret to be happy is to give others as much as you can and not expect anything in return. If you don't have expectations, you won't have a reason to feel bad. I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me.

This is a special thanksgiving note to my mother for all the values of life that she has inculcated in me. We are successful in every aspect of life because of her. We never get a chance to appreciate her for her endless sacrifices, love and devotion to her family members.

She has made us strong and taught how to achieve our goals personally and professionally. The biggest thing I've learnt from her is to make the best use of available resources with what God has blessed us with.

She still is a pillar of strength for all the family members. In my own quiet way I want to show appreciation to all the mothers of society along with my mother, as it is far beyond explaining what a mother does.

She is my friend and a best person I ever know in my life. I love you mom!

Finally, we have Glenn D'souza talking about advice his mother gave him.

• Whatever you do in life, good, bad or ugly give it your best shot.
• Relationships are the most important things in life. All the rest can be replaced over and over again.
• Friendship is like chinaware; once broken it can be mended but the crack always remains.