6 Editors Share How Their Mothers Raised Them to Be Strong, Confident Women

"My mom is the definition of a gem: caring, thoughtful, and always there to answer my (frequent and probably annoying) phone calls. But really, the greatest gift she ever gave was raising me in a city. Growing up in downtown Chicago, I spent the majority of my free time at museums, exploring public parks, and taking advantage of everything the city had to offer — first with my family, and then with friends and alone as I got older. For high school, I went to the city's most diverse public magnet school. Collectively, these experiences shaped who I became: fiercely independent, socially and culturally aware, and empathetic towards those whose circumstances and backgrounds differ from my own. I learned how to be strong and resilient, too — how to stand up for who I am and what I want, and stand out from a crowd. It's already difficult enough to raise a daughter, but to do it in a city adds so many more layers of stress. I admire her strength in taking all of that on and couldn't be more grateful." — Carrie Carrollo, assistant native beauty editor

"When I tell people my mom is a psychologist, they often react with some version of: 'Whoa, did you get analyzed all the time as a kid?' In fact, it's just the opposite. My mom has always been the ultimate sounding board, always there to give advice (seriously, therapist level) or just commiserate and say, 'Well, that just sucks.' She's been an amazing role model as someone who fights for what's right — she's gone to every Women's March, is active in campaigning for women's issues, and volunteers her time to organizations that she believes in. She's shown by example how to be an empathetic and strong human — while also passing down her snarky sense of humor. TBH my mom is just the coolest." — Aviel Kanter, senior native living editor

"The one thing I can say I've learned from my mother I probably learned inadvertently. She never sat me down and said "do unto others as you would like them to do unto you" (I'm fairly certain the Bible has that phrase coined, anyway), but I can say that she lived her life by this sentiment and watching her do so helped shape the person I am today. She lives each day with such regard for those around her, and it taught me that there is no weakness in being kind. In fact, having an empathetic outlook on life has made me a more humble and well-rounded person and in the end taught me that there is a quiet strength that comes from treating others with respect and dignity — something I now hope to pass onto my children." — Amanda Elser Murray, senior native style editor

"My mom has always led by example. There hasn't been a day when I've seen her give up, I don't think that's ever crossed her mind. She taught me that I'm capable of doing everything I set my mind to, and that discipline and perseverance play a big part in reaching those goals. She encouraged me to better myself, to keep picking up new hobbies and skills, and to keep exploring my talents, and she never let me think that I'm less than what I am. She doesn't like to see me fail, but at the same time, she lets me make mistakes so I can learn from them. She's the definition of a strong woman inside and out, but above all, she leads with love and empathy. She gets emotional and is, above all, human, with all the flaws and little quirks that encompasses, but to me, she'll always be a superhero. In my eyes, no one can be better than her at her job, as a mom, as a wife, as a friend, as a daughter . . . and I'll always have her as a reference for how to make the most out of my life." — Maria Valdez, lead editor, Latina

"My mom and I are very close, and we always have been. She gets me on a deep level, and I can't remember a time when I didn't feel understood by her. I was really lucky because my siblings and I grew up with her as a stay-at-home mom, so she was around 24/7. She was there when I came home in tears after a bad grade, picked me up from school when I threw up in the nurse's office, and was my number-one fan at every dance recital, competition, and halftime show. There's not one thing on this Earth my mom wouldn't do for me, and while that may sound extreme, I know that to be fact. No one understands me quite like she does, and she's taught me to be a strong woman by teaching me the importance of strong friendship, of fierce loyalty, and of showing up when it matters most. Family means everything to my mom, and as a result, it means everything to me, too. She's the glue and the heart of our family, and I hope to one day be the same thing for my own kids." — Kathleen Harper, associate native fashion editor

"My mom is one of the strongest women I know, always standing up for what she believes in and never taking 'no' as a final answer. For as long as I can remember, she's taught me to advocate for myself, because no one will do it for me. She took me to our first 'sit-in' to protest changes our local school board was making when I was 12 years old and to my first march on Washington to fight for women's rights when I was 14. Those experiences helped mold me into the advocate I am today. Whether I'm championing for my children in and outside of their schools, or taking them to their first rallies, I know there's a piece of my mom's rebellious nature pushing me to fight for what I believe in today." — Rebecca Gruber, vice president, Native Content

In the spirit of raising strong women, Secret Deodorant asked retired soccer player, activist, and mom Abby Wambach what she would tell her 13-year-old self. Watch the video above to hear her inspiring message about raising daughters.