Mother's Day: Why mother knows best

It wasn't always easy taking advice from our mums when we were growing up, but as the years have rolled by, we've realised that mum was right about so many things after all. We take a look at the words of wisdom that were hard to swallow at the time, but which turned out to be oh-so-true.


Learn to be financially independent
Even if you meet a well-off man, you shouldn't depend on him. Yes, it's fun to be spoilt but you never know when circumstances will change and you should always be prepared - and able - to support yourself.


Always use a sunscreen and don't go too brown on holiday
Mums have the advantage of hindsight, and will have seen some of their friends and colleagues prematurely ageing thanks to too much time in the sun. I recall my mum saying, 'You don't want to look like a shrivelled, old prune before your time,' which was enough to put the fear of God into me and ensure I eventually started slapping on a high factor.


Men will take advantage if you put it on a plate
Was she right about this one! Some men will sweet talk a girl and tell her everything she wants to hear, until they get her into bed. Then it's a roll of the dice whether they ever ring again. Of course there are some nice guys out there who wouldn't take advantage in this way, but as a mum would say: nice guys will wait.


Always love and believe in yourself
When we were in our youth and feeling angsty that we were ugly or unpopular, mum would say we should believe in and love ourselves more. How true - and yet how little we listened until much later in life, when we realised we were actually pretty lovely people.



Be kind to others and treat them as you'd want to be treated
As we fell out with one friend or gossiped about another, we ignored the value of being kind to others. 'Nice to her? But she's been awful to me!' would be the refrain. Of course we didn't realise that sometimes we made matters worse by not being forgiving or generous. Only later on did we learn the value of giving someone the benefit of the doubt and not dumping a friend over something trivial.

 reat your hair and skin gently
Mums would advise never to pull your skin or tug at your hair, but did you listen as you dragged that comb through knots or washed your face like it was an old boot? No. It was only much later that you finally realised how important it is to treat these assets like the precious and delicate things they are.


Put your best foot forward
How many times did your mum tell you to put your best foot forward, to put a smile on your face when you were doubtful about facing the world or daunted by something you had to do? Often you might think she didn't know what she was talking about and she couldn't understand what you were facing. Today, the penny's dropped and you now realise there were many times in her life when she was doing exactly what she preached.


Don't show everything
How annoying was it when you wanted to go out in a teeny tiny miniskirt and see-through top, only to see mother raising her eyebrows, archly stating that you shouldn't show everything. Years later, you now know that revealing everything is less sexy than keeping a little bit covered up.


Classics are worth the investment
When you were a teenager, you probably wanted to get a new top, dress or shoes every week, yet mum would advise that it's always worth saving your pounds and investing in a classic. Today, you totally appreciate the wisdom of buying a coat or bag that's more expensive, because it's lasting, smart and a great investment.


You can always count on me
Perhaps the most important thing your mum would always say to you when you felt let down by someone or something. But only later in life did you realise just how much you have counted on her love and support through the years, as well as the fact that she's been there for you through the break-ups, job losses and all the other stresses and strains of life.

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10 Mother’s Day gift ideas for 10 types of mums

Have you been remiss in buying your mum a present for Mother’s Day? When you’re in a rush, it’s tempting to go for a generic gift like scented candles or scarves. Buying something that has a little more to do with your mum’s personality requires way more thought – but worry, not, we’ve got the most common types of personalities down and what to buy for each one.





 




 Now, before you balk at the suggestion of buy underthings for your own mother, we’re going to clarify: this is underwear, not lingerie. And no mum would say no to an item from Triumph’s Body MakeUp collection, which is so breathable and lightweight that you’ll feel as if you’re not even wearing underwear. As a bonus, the nude-coloured bras feature Triumph’s patented Memory Cushion cups, which mould to the curves of your body for ultimate comfort. Sounds perfect for a mum who’s  too busy running a household (or shuttling between work, school, and the home) for froo-froo lingerie!

 You’ve likely seen Furla’s super hip CANDY bag being touted around town. If you’ve ever caught your mum peering at one through the window, why don’t you spring for one of Furla’s dreamy CANDY SUNSET bags? We love the sea and sunset-inspired gradients – and if your mum’s a bit of a fashionista, she will too, as ombre is all the rage right now. If your mum doesn’t mind waiting a couple of weeks for her present, then Furla is the way to go.

 Who says your mum has to be an iPhone or an Android person? If she’s expressed dislike for either – or if she’s one of the rare uber-geek mums who wants to be different –  you can buy her the lovely Nokia Lumia 720, a Windows phone with a unibody designed by Carl Zeiss optics. In addition to being very pretty, the phone can also charge wirelessly. What mum doesn’t want to free herself for dependency on cords?











 Whether you mum’s a busy who’s always running errands, or she’s just a lover of the great outdoors, we can all agree that the humid climate here in Singapore can take a toll one one’s skin. If you’ve ever heard your mum lamenting her clogged skin, you can buy her Bioderm’s Sebium Pore H20, a gentle cleansing product that prevents sebum from building up in your pores. We love the product’s watery texture, anti-shine care, and anti-bacterial care – perfect for either removing makeup, or giving one’s face a refresher after a long day.











 Does your mum constantly pine the speed of technology and the rarity in of having an album full of physical photos? Then buy her the HP Photosmart 7520 e-All-in-One printer, which can print high-quality images wirelessly from any Wi-Fi enabled mobile device. Be prepared to see your refrigerator peppered with photos that she prints from your Facebook account.



Feeling extra generous this year? Give something to a friend who just gave birth as a way to encourage and congratulate her on her special day. If she’s breastfeeding, we recommend the Philips AVENT Comfort Single Electric Pump, which is capable of remembering the user’s personal pumping rhythm.  Pumping breast milk might feel a little uncomfortable, but this little gadget may alleviate some of the pain and hassle that comes with it.








What mum HASN’T wanted an air fryer at some point? Philips’ popular air fryer not only makes the cook’s job easier, but it produces food that is a lot healthier. By requiring a lot less oil, the air fryer can create food that contains up to 80 percent less fat. It’s also extremely versatile, as you can fry everything from French fries, to chicken nuggets, to steaks inside without compromising their taste.





We all know a mum who loves to entertain. If your mother can frequently be found at home throwing tea parties for her friends, then spring for World Kitchen’s 18-piece Corelle Provence Garden Range, which was inspired by the spring blossoms in Eastern France. The cheerful wildflower designs and fresh colours will charm her guests while keeping them well-fed.






 Got any sophisticated, stylish mamas in your life? Consider gifting them with a Tiffany Gemea watch, which is studded on tsvaorites, blue tourmalines and pink, and blue and orange sapphires.  These watches, which belong to the Tiffany Gallery collection, were inspired by the American Art Deco movement in the 1920s – perfect for someone who can appreciate a little old-school glamour.










 Fresh off the heels of Tim Ho Wan’s expansion in Singapore PUMA and Hypebeast magazine have collaborated for a limited edition ‘Dim Sum’ pack of Puma’s Blaze of Glory shoes. The yellow ‘Siu Mai’ shoes were inspired by the yellow wrapping around dumplings, while the white ‘Har Gar’ shoe references the delicate skin around a shrimp dumpling.