Maisonette Muse
My Best Mom Advice
We asked these six inspirational mamas for the best parenting advice they received. Plus, how they'll be spending Mother's Day, be it in Paris or Mexico City.
Elettra Wiedemann Model and Impatient Foodie Founder
What is the best piece of Mom advice you ever received?
When I was younger my mom warned me not to "chase the mechanical rabbit," like the mechanical lures you'd see at a dog race track, for example. By that she meant for me to slow down and really focus on WHY I was doing something – was it for the sake of competition itself? To try and impress someone? Or was it because I really loved what I was doing? If you're pursuing something for egotistic reasons, you're basically chasing a mechanical lure; You'll never catch it, it'll always be faster than you no matter how hard you go, and it'll run you ragged.
Describe your perfect Mother’s Day… Sleeping in until super late and then having a long, luxurious breakfast while reading the newspaper, followed by a two-hour massage and absolutely no self-imposed guilt.
Describe your perfect Mother’s Day… Sleeping in until super late and then having a long, luxurious breakfast while reading the newspaper, followed by a two-hour massage and absolutely no self-imposed guilt.
Jenni Kayne California-Inspired Designer
What is the best piece of Mom advice you ever received?
When I had my first child, my mom told me that not everything was going to be perfect, and it took me a long time to believe, or understand, what she meant. Once I started to let go of the standards I held myself to, I was able to be in the moment with my kids, and that’s what really counts.
Describe your perfect Mother’s Day… Spending time outside with the family, on a hike or in the garden, and then cooking dinner all together.
Describe your perfect Mother’s Day… Spending time outside with the family, on a hike or in the garden, and then cooking dinner all together.
Karla Martinez De Salas Editor-in-Chief of Vogue Mexico and Vogue Latin America
What is the best piece of Mom advice you ever received?
David Maupin - Stefano Tonchi’s partner - told me that I shouldn’t feel guilty about traveling for work. My daughters should know that their mom and dad work for a living to make it possible for them to have good food on their table, a good education, and opportunities in life.
Describe your perfect Mother’s Day… In México moms get the day off for Mother´s Day – it’s a national holiday. My ideal day would be to have a picnic with my girls in the park, followed by a long walk.
Describe your perfect Mother’s Day… In México moms get the day off for Mother´s Day – it’s a national holiday. My ideal day would be to have a picnic with my girls in the park, followed by a long walk.
Lela Rose Fashion Designer
What is the best piece of Mom advice you ever received?
Mistakes will be made, milk will be spilled, there will be anger and frustration but NEVER pass up an opportunity to give or get a hug from your child. My grandmother taught me that (primarily by showing me this every day).
Describe your perfect Mother’s Day… A glorious sunny day spent biking around with my family and going to a delicious (and boozy) lunch.
Describe your perfect Mother’s Day… A glorious sunny day spent biking around with my family and going to a delicious (and boozy) lunch.
Charlotte Groeneveld Dutch style blogger @thefashionguitar
What is the best piece of Mom advice you ever received?
It was a quote I read, but I forgot who it was who said this: “Sometimes you have to go slow to go faster” and I truly live by it. I have always remembered that, especially in times of work-induced stress: “just go one by one and your to-do list will be done.” It applies to so many situations: motherhood, career, daily life. So I truly want to pass this on to those around me.
Describe your perfect Mother’s Day… A perfect Mother’s Day for me is being with my husband and two children, at home in New York City. Sleeping in a little, but not too long, because I love the morning sun in our kitchen and having a homemade coffee there while I make the kids their favourite vegan waffles and pancakes. Even on Mother’s Day I make breakfast because I love doing it, and I don’t think this day is about doing everything for the mom, but rather being together as a family and enjoying the quality time. Then after breakfast we go to the park, or daddy goes with the kids and I get an hour to myself. That is a luxury, too! And then we go to our favourite wine bar at the end of the afternoon, we drink a glass of organic wine - me red, my husband white - while we look at our kids and smile. How lucky we are!
Describe your perfect Mother’s Day… A perfect Mother’s Day for me is being with my husband and two children, at home in New York City. Sleeping in a little, but not too long, because I love the morning sun in our kitchen and having a homemade coffee there while I make the kids their favourite vegan waffles and pancakes. Even on Mother’s Day I make breakfast because I love doing it, and I don’t think this day is about doing everything for the mom, but rather being together as a family and enjoying the quality time. Then after breakfast we go to the park, or daddy goes with the kids and I get an hour to myself. That is a luxury, too! And then we go to our favourite wine bar at the end of the afternoon, we drink a glass of organic wine - me red, my husband white - while we look at our kids and smile. How lucky we are!
Florence Mars Author
What is the best piece of Mom advice you ever received?
I think I read it somewhere, but where? (You try to keep your sanity with 4 children, mon amie!) Here it is: It is an excellent idea to have rules because kids love structure: when to eat, what to eat, etc. (And believe me we do have tons of rules in France, especially concerning food) BUT, it is also important to break the rules once in a while. For instance, on Sundays in my house there is no proper seated diner - we eat whatever we want, whenever we want. The kids love it and it gives me a break!
Describe your perfect Mother’s Day… The absolute perfect Mother's Day in NY started with the kids preparing breakfast for me (something I would never have thought about for breakfast) and giving me little love notes, poems and crazy homemade stuff that still sits on my shelves. Then we’d go for a long bicycle ride around Central Park and a picnic with my husband Alex. Then there would arrive the inevitable moment when everyone in my family realized they had better things to do with their life, and the dream was over. But the morning was really per-fect.
This year will be my first Mother's Day in Paris in a very long time, but I am hoping for a long walk on the river banks with some Berthillons ice creams involved. If the kids give me one "grasse matinee" [a "sleep-in"] . It would be the first in 8 months if you know what I mean. I would be on the moon!
Describe your perfect Mother’s Day… The absolute perfect Mother's Day in NY started with the kids preparing breakfast for me (something I would never have thought about for breakfast) and giving me little love notes, poems and crazy homemade stuff that still sits on my shelves. Then we’d go for a long bicycle ride around Central Park and a picnic with my husband Alex. Then there would arrive the inevitable moment when everyone in my family realized they had better things to do with their life, and the dream was over. But the morning was really per-fect.
This year will be my first Mother's Day in Paris in a very long time, but I am hoping for a long walk on the river banks with some Berthillons ice creams involved. If the kids give me one "grasse matinee" [a "sleep-in"] . It would be the first in 8 months if you know what I mean. I would be on the moon!