10 Mother's Day Quotes Reveal Why Mothers Nag So Much

My kids sometimes call me a nag. Me? A nag? Do I really do that? What's with kids these days? And why is nagging considered all that bad?

My first thought went back to my childhood days. How my mother nagged me to get out of bed early. How she made sure I brushed my teeth, tied my hair, and went to school on time. When I came back from school, it was all about homework, and studying, and working hard for the exams.

I turned out all right, didn't I? And if I were to be honest, the nagging helped make me a conscientious person too.

Are Nagging Moms Good or Bad?

To my defense, and probably to many of the mothers reading this article, most mothers nag their kids. Maybe it is indoctrinated within a mom the day her baby is born. Or maybe she picks up the habit of constantly "advising" her child, which takes the tone of nagging when it becomes repetitive. Nagging mothers usually had their own mothers nagging them when they were young. While many mothers believe that all mothers try to reinforce beliefs, values, and discipline through repetitive advise, this form of communication usually goes kaput once the child attains teenage.

So Is Nagging a Bad Habit?

In a 2015 study conducted by University of Essex in England, researchers, who studied that habits of over 15000 teenage girls, found that teenage girls were more likely to avoid teen pregnancy, and less likely to remain unemployed if they had nagging moms to push them harder.

Many teenagers who had a higher rate of success in their careers, had a nagging mom to back them. (That made me feel so good, I can go right back to nagging!)

However, many counselors, and child psychologists will tell you that nagging does not help the child to improve his or her behavior. If anything at all, it will only make the child not take onus for his actions.

Teaching has to allow the child to learn on his own, without being told to do the right thing. So, the long term effect of nagging is stress for the mother, and poor character development for the child.

Beneath Every Critical Word, Is a Mother's Genuine Love

True, mothers nag at times. But look at it this way. Would you rather have her ignore you? Would you prefer that she look the other way, when you are walking down a wrong path? You may not like her constantly reminding you of your responsibility, but don't underestimate her love for you. Beneath every word of caution, advice, or criticism is a layer of protective love. She wants you to be happy, successful, and healthy. She is concerned about your wellbeing, and spends every waking hour thinking of ways to improve your life. So, if you have a critical mother, don't be annoyed with her. She is after all, your best friend.

Make Your Mother Proud. It's Easy to Please Her.

You don't need rich, expensive gifts to please her. All you need to do is follow her advice and be a good person. Respect her views, and understand why she has been tough on you while growing up. Mothers have a soft heart and they are easy to please. Appreciate her hard work, and her sacrifices.

Your words of appreciation, and your undivided attention is all she wants to know that she is loved. Here is a special collection of Mother's Day quotes for our boldest and gentlest mothers. If you can't say it with words, say it with these quotes.

• Oscar Wilde
  All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That's his.
   
• Rajneesh
  The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new.
   
• Agatha Christie
  A mother’s love for her child is like nothing else in the world. It knows no law, no pity, it dates all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path.
   
• Helen Hunt Jackson
  Motherhood is priced; Of God, at price no man may dare/To lessen or misunderstand.
   
• Barbara Kingsolver
  It kills you to see them grow up. But I guess it would kill you quicker if they didn't.
   
• Jewish Proverb
  God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers.
   
• Abraham Lincoln
  I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life.
   
• Mildred B Vermont
  Being a full-time mother is one of the highest salaried jobs... since the payment is pure love.
   
• Henry Bickersteth
  If the whole world were put into one scale, and my mother in the other, the whole world would kick the beam.
   
• Chinese Proverb
  There is only one pretty child in the world, and every mother has it.