Ashle Harris Shares the Life Lessons Her Mother Taught Her
We look like them. We laugh like them and in many cases, we love like them. Our mothers and motherly figures taught us how to be women and the lessons we learned from them are ones we have the pleasure of passing along to our children.
This week we spoke with five career women to see what lessons have stuck with them over the years from the women they call mommy. Here is our interview 5 of 5 featuring Ashle Harris.
Ashle Harris
Houston, TX
Marketing Specialist at Phalen Leadership Academies
What are some of the greatest lessons your mom taught you growing up?
My mom taught me so much it's hard to really narrow it down but a lot of the biggest lessons she's taught me had to do with my character. Work hard. Persevere. Practice servanthood, and be willing to sacrifice for those you love. I saw my mom overcome some huge challenges as a mother of three with two children who had sickle cell anemia. Multiple times, life threw curveballs, but somehow she always found a way to make sure we had everything we needed, and then some. Love, food on the table, her attention, her support, and her forgiveness was always there.
What lessons have stuck with you over the years?
The greatest lesson that has stuck with me is to be on time for everything, really to be early...but since becoming a mom of littles, I've found that a little challenging.
Now that you're a mom yourself, do you ever find yourself repeating the same things to your girls that your mom said to you as a kid?
I think my mom spoke more with her actions than with her words. I can't think of a time in my life where I pursued something and she didn't support me or find a way to help me obtain something I desired. I would like to think that I am that way with my girls already. Finding ways to sow into the giftings that have already manifested in them and spending time doing things with them that they enjoy.
How has becoming a mom changed your perspective of your upbringing if at all?
My mom was winging it everyday lol but isn't that what most of us are doing?! She really was just doing the best she could for us so that we could have a better future, make good choices, and be successful. And that's what I do every day as a mom. I don't have all the answers and I'm not perfect, but I'm doing my best, and where I lack I depend on God's grace and I lean into my community for wisdom and prayer.
What lessons from your mom have you instilled in your girls?
If you are going to try, try 100%, give it your best effort; and if you fail, it's not a bad thing, it's a lesson. Dust off, get up, and try again. There is always a way to get where you want to go. Also, trust that God has the best for you, no matter what your circumstance looks like in the present.
What is one character trait you hope your daughter takes from your mom?
My mom is one of my biggest heroes, so much of what she poured into us is knit into the fabric of my motherhood. She is one of the most generous people I know and she knows how to serve her tail off! I would like to think that's where my gift of hospitality came from and I see so much of that in my oldest daughter, Noelle. She's always inviting people over, always volunteering to help around the house. Noelle sees a need and most of the time she goes and fills the need. I believe she got that from me and my mom.