Local seniors give their advice to young moms

These aren't your average moms. They've been around awhile and seen generations of mothers go through continual change.

"It was a lot simpler," said Lodi resident Florence Heib, 90. "You didn't have all the temptations."

Heib said the most important thing a young mother can do is care about their children.

"I think caring covers quite a bit," she said. "You care about what your child does and learn what they're doing, and be a good listener."

The News-Sentinel asked senior mothers — who've seen it all — what advice they would give the young mothers of today.

Nancy Phelps

Nancy Phelps
Age: 70 on May 17
Residence: Lodi

"It's very different today. There was not as much availability of drugs (when I was younger). When you say 'Sit down,' they sit down."

"Make sure you watch them more carefully and screen what they do and who they do it with. The kids have too much time on their hands, too much freedom."

Joyce Whitney

Joyce Whitney
Residence: Moved to Lodi one month ago from Stockton
Age: Almost 90

"Follow their instincts and use common sense. If you tell them too much, they rebel."

Joan Burks

Joan Burks
Residence: Lodi
Age: 85

"I think you have to have a lot of patience and have a lot of discipline. I think nowadays parents try to give them too much."

Emily Rishwain

Emily Rishwain
Residence: Lodi
Age: 88

"Just to be there for them as my mother always was for me. I always tried to imitate my mother to my children."

Virginia Pirie

Virginia Pirie
Residence: Lodi
Age: 84

"Love your children. Young people have to work now. That takes them away from their children. Be more interested in what they do all day."

Contact reporter Ross Farrow at rossf@lodinews.com.

Reader Feedback

S & W 500 wrote on May 12, 2009 6:08 PM:

" Thank you caring mothers! My advice to those who want to procreate: Look in the mirror, and look at your values, what you believe in, and what you depend on, and WHO you depend on! Then IF you are stable, and can provide EVERYTHING for your child without HELP from me, enjoy it! IF NOT< USE A RUBBER! If your religion says "no" to rubbers, don't do it, or bill the church for your medical bills, not me, nor the state, or fed. "

Report Abuse

dogs4you wrote on May 11, 2009 1:52 PM:

" To all the mom`s that have posted their comments, you are correct. My advice would be, don`t buy anything you can not afford, pay cash or use a debit card, cut up the plastic and have only the amount of kids you can afford to feed. After 2-3 kids you will get my drift, a urolgist can solve that situation, nothing like peace of mind. "

Report Abuse

dot dot dot wrote on May 11, 2009 12:32 PM:

" I have to work outside of the home, I used to be a stay at home mom. Nope it's not a BMW I'm trying to pay off, it's keeping the electricity on and food in the fridge that's my concern. It's hard to take advice from someone who was NEVER in your shoes. "

Report Abuse

momto2 wrote on May 11, 2009 9:29 AM:

" I am fortunate to be a stay at home mom, and I was raised by my grandmother, so to that I am a rather "old fashioned" mom, except that I don't need to shield my kids from tv, the internet, public schools and the like, I need to TEACH my kids values and morals, that's my job and I take it seriously, that's what's lacking in todays kids, parents rely too much on outside influences and not enough on what they're doing to make their kids responsible citizens. "

Report Abuse

Journey wrote on May 11, 2009 7:38 AM:

" I'm a "senior mother" with 5 grandchildren and if you had asked me I would have suggested -- short of not having them in the first place -- isolating them from television, Internet, public schools, etc. And perhaps raise them the good, old-fashioned way..with one parent at home full time (you don't really need that second BMW in the driveway, do you?). And the point about being a parent and not a friend is right on the mark! "

Report Abuse

jbhiker wrote on May 11, 2009 6:36 AM:

" I have some advice: Stop trying to be a Friend and focus on being a Parent. Great Article! "

Report Abuse

Comments on this story are now closed.

Archives

Story Tools

Indexes

Local seniors give their advice to young moms

Reader Feedback

Special Sections

Photo Reprints

Find Ads

Weather

Services

Contact Us

Office

Newsroom

Subscriptions

Advertising

Classifieds