Editor’s note: DP Buzz is an interactive feature of the Daily Press Opinion Page. We email weekly questions on issues and topics affecting Peninsula-area citizens. Each week, subscribers can choose to weigh in with a short answer. Here is a sampling; all responses are posted at dailypress.com/opinion. To receive DP Buzz questions, email [email protected] with the subject “DP Buzz.”
This week’s question: What is the most lasting or important lesson you learned from your mother?
Care for one another and always be respectful of others. Keep a happy outlook as it helps project a caring attitude.
Herb De Groft
Smithfield
Italian mother – “eat everything I make and finish your plate.”
Gerald Chiappazzi
Yorktown
My mom taught me to love people and be kind!
Annie McGrath
Williamsburg
My mother’s philosophy, which she insisted we eight siblings live by, was: “If there is room in your heart, than there is room in your home.” With this we were encouraged to reach out each day and help those less fortunate than we.
Mike Kuzma
Newport News
My mother always said i was lucky. In spite of my transgressions, she always stood in my corner, no matter what. Not that there wasn’t punishment but, in the aftermath, there was a feeling of care and love. To this day, I realize just how fortunate I was to have had such a mother.
Steven M. Yedinak
Newport News
She frequently quoted: “This above all, to thine own self be true.”
Toni Beacham
Williamsburg
I know you are going to laugh, but my mother informed me of the advantages of drinking scotch which doesn’t give you a hangover.
Robert Neely
Newport News
To love your children, but don’t be afraid to let them try out their wings. To stand up for them, but don’t be afraid to stand up to them.
John E. Robins, Jr.
Hampton
My mother taught me the importance of prayer. To have faith and trust in the good Lord and He will sustain you. She also taught me how to make a wonderful “ made from scratch” homemade apple pie.
Melanie A. Paul
Hampton
My wonderful parents were defined by sense of family, community, faith and honesty. Mom fervently believed that a lie was an assured ticket to hell. If she was correct, by now hell must be overpopulated.
Joe Mann
James City County
One thing my mother said a long time ago that stuck with me is “The world needs ditch diggers, too.” She said this because she knew all jobs do not need a degree. Many people make way more money with a skill than a degree.
Alan Duhon
Newport News
A widow, mom was dad too. She taught: be a thinker, independent, productive and good citizen. Listen to every idea and suspect everything you hear. Pay closest attention to those with different opinions to become well informed before making decisions. Give due respect to everyone and be slow to make character judgements.
Joe Blumber
Newport News
Always think before you act. Everything you do will have consequences and only you can insure that they have a positive and not negative outcome.
Talbot Vivian
Yorktown
My mother was the kindest person I knew and I’ve tried to live by her example of living by the golden rule.
Buddy Rilee
Gloucester
That I can do all things through Christ and hard work!
Kaera Mims
Yorktown
Empathy is the strong message Mom tried to impress. I thought it hard to empathize when you learned an individual was a chronic embezzler, child abuser, drug abuser, alcoholic, rapist, murderer, etc. But empathy is indeed a noble principle and can occasionally be exercised rationally; liberal political correctness and/or social excuses aside.
Philip Paul
Hampton
My mother taught many important lessons that I learned: Love the Lord, work to make money not follow dreams, enjoy sports, persevere. Sadly, I’ve never quite learned one of her most important lessons: Never expect your “friends” to be as loyal to you as you are to them.
Michael Holloway
York County
My mother left me with three important concepts. First is her sense of spirituality. She left dozens or more little notes about God’s presence taped all over her house. I saved each one. Second was her example of service. Finally I have her mantra: “We are here for one reason to help others.”
Anne Andrews
Hampton
She told me several times, not sure how many, one of her favorite adages: To have a friend, you have to be a friend.
Andrew Byrne
Hampton
Mom taught me the love of nature and art, respect for the working class, and to celebrate the wonderful diversity of people and their cultures in our nation.
Benjamin Cuker
Hampton
Tolerance.
Jim DeGrazia
Hampton
A devout Catholic, the importance of keeping God in your life and to practice your religion faithfully; she was very tolerant of all religions.
Ross Kearney
Hampton
That I would one day be wealthy. That it was important to achieve financial independence.
Frank Govern
Newport Beach. Calif.
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