Mommy's Law: Women Leaders on Their Mothers

Congressional leaders on the advice that helped define them.

Mother Knows Best - Girls often spend our formative years thinking that the most complicated relationship we'll ever have is with a romantic other until, that is, we have daughters of our own. And sometimes it is not until we are fully grown women ourselves that we realize the relationship we had with our mothers will likely be the most uplifting, complex, confusing and profound of our lives. In honor of Mother's Day, BET.com gathered quotes from several members of the Congressional Black Caucus about the most valuable advice they received from the women who helped define them. Read on to learn how those words of wisdom helped shape them into the accomplished and powerful women they are today. — Joyce Jones (@BETpolitichick)   (Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images)

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Mother Knows Best - Girls often spend our formative years thinking that the most complicated relationship we'll ever have is with a romantic other until, that is, we have daughters of our own. And sometimes it is not until we are fully grown women ourselves that we realize the relationship we had with our mothers will likely be the most uplifting, complex, confusing and profound of our lives. In honor of Mother's Day, BET.com gathered quotes from several members of the Congressional Black Caucus about the most valuable advice they received from the women who helped define them. Read on to learn how those words of wisdom helped shape them into the accomplished and powerful women they are today. — Joyce Jones (@BETpolitichick) (Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images)

Rep. Alma Adams (North Carolina) - “My mother, a strong African-American woman who will be 90 this year, is my 'shero.' All her life, she worked as a domestic worker and she cleaned homes so that I didn’t have to. Through my mother, I learned the importance of getting an education and understanding my worth and power as an African-American woman," says Rep. Alma Adams, pictured here with her 'shero.' "I have always known the value of education because she made sure it was ingrained in me as a young child. Those crucial lessons and that education she encouraged me to get changed my life and are why I am able to stand here today as a member of Congress, an advocate for the voiceless and a former educator. As a mother and grandmother, I have instilled in my children, those same core values of education and self-worth.”   (Photo: Courtesy of Rep. Alma Adams)

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Rep. Alma Adams (North Carolina) - “My mother, a strong African-American woman who will be 90 this year, is my 'shero.' All her life, she worked as a domestic worker and she cleaned homes so that I didn’t have to. Through my mother, I learned the importance of getting an education and understanding my worth and power as an African-American woman," says Rep. Alma Adams, pictured here with her 'shero.' "I have always known the value of education because she made sure it was ingrained in me as a young child. Those crucial lessons and that education she encouraged me to get changed my life and are why I am able to stand here today as a member of Congress, an advocate for the voiceless and a former educator. As a mother and grandmother, I have instilled in my children, those same core values of education and self-worth.” (Photo: Courtesy of Rep. Alma Adams)

Rep. Karen Bass (California) - "My mother taught me that it takes two to tangle. In other words, you don’t have to get into conflicts unless you choose to get into them,” says Rep. Karen Bass, pictured here with her mother and daughter.   (Photo courtest of Karen Bass)

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Rep. Karen Bass (California) - "My mother taught me that it takes two to tangle. In other words, you don’t have to get into conflicts unless you choose to get into them,” says Rep. Karen Bass, pictured here with her mother and daughter. (Photo courtest of Karen Bass)

Rep. Joyce Beatty (Ohio) - "My 91-year-old mother is a great inspiration to me. She is healthy, lives by herself and still loves cooking. Years ago, my mom shared a great piece of wisdom with me: The most important two words you can every say to someone are 'thank you,' and I try to use as them often as possible," says Rep. Joyce Beatty, seen here with her mother. "Kindness and thankfulness go a long way in the journey toward achieving great successes. So on this Mother's Day, 'Thank you, Mom.'"  (Photo: Courtesy of Rep. Joyce Beatty)

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Rep. Joyce Beatty (Ohio) - "My 91-year-old mother is a great inspiration to me. She is healthy, lives by herself and still loves cooking. Years ago, my mom shared a great piece of wisdom with me: The most important two words you can every say to someone are 'thank you,' and I try to use as them often as possible," says Rep. Joyce Beatty, seen here with her mother. "Kindness and thankfulness go a long way in the journey toward achieving great successes. So on this Mother's Day, 'Thank you, Mom.'" (Photo: Courtesy of Rep. Joyce Beatty)

Rep. Corrine Brown (Florida) - "My mother and grandmother were the embodiment of strong Black women. Growing up, my mother instilled in me a sense of great pride and self-assurance. She constantly reminded me that I came from a lineage of strong Black women, who made up the foundation of our family," says Rep. Brown, who is pictured here with her grandmother, mother and daughter at the Togo Embassy.   (Photo: Courtesy of Rep. Corinne Brown)

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Rep. Corrine Brown (Florida) - "My mother and grandmother were the embodiment of strong Black women. Growing up, my mother instilled in me a sense of great pride and self-assurance. She constantly reminded me that I came from a lineage of strong Black women, who made up the foundation of our family," says Rep. Brown, who is pictured here with her grandmother, mother and daughter at the Togo Embassy. (Photo: Courtesy of Rep. Corinne Brown)

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Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (New Jersey) - "My mother taught me, through actions as often as words, that family always comes first. For her, and now for me, family goes beyond just those with whom you share a name or blood," shares Rep. Watson Coleman, who is pictured here with her son. "You stand by your friends, you stand by your community, and you stand by anyone in need. When there's a problem, you work through it together. That's a value I carry with me every day."    (Photo Courtesy of Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman)

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Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (New Jersey) - "My mother taught me, through actions as often as words, that family always comes first. For her, and now for me, family goes beyond just those with whom you share a name or blood," shares Rep. Watson Coleman, who is pictured here with her son. "You stand by your friends, you stand by your community, and you stand by anyone in need. When there's a problem, you work through it together. That's a value I carry with me every day." (Photo Courtesy of Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman)

Rep. Donna Edwards (Maryland) - "The best advice my mother ever gave me did not come from a specific conversation we had, but through her daily example as a strong, confident woman. As women, we have encountered people who told us that our ambitions were too lofty, that there were things we could not do, but my mother never let that slow her down and I have done my best to follow her example," shares Rep. Edwards, pictured here with her mother. "She taught me not to spend my time worrying about what other people think about me, but to do what I know in my heart to be the right thing. She taught me not to shortchange myself by spending all of my time thinking about what I couldn’t do, but instead to trust my judgment and my instincts. Above all, as the mother of six children, she showed me how to be generous of heart and spirit, and as a mother myself I try to be the...

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Rep. Donna Edwards (Maryland) - "The best advice my mother ever gave me did not come from a specific conversation we had, but through her daily example as a strong, confident woman. As women, we have encountered people who told us that our ambitions were too lofty, that there were things we could not do, but my mother never let that slow her down and I have done my best to follow her example," shares Rep. Edwards, pictured here with her mother. "She taught me not to spend my time worrying about what other people think about me, but to do what I know in my heart to be the right thing. She taught me not to shortchange myself by spending all of my time thinking about what I couldn’t do, but instead to trust my judgment and my instincts. Above all, as the mother of six children, she showed me how to be generous of heart and spirit, and as a mother myself I try to be the...

Rep. Marcia Fudge (Ohio) - “The best advice my mother gave me was simple. She told me I could be whatever I wanted to be and that if you work hard, God will bless you. Whether I was going out for the field hockey team or declaring my candidacy for mayor, she was always my compass and my confidante," says Rep. Fudge, who posed for this mother-daughter portrait as a young girl. "She believed in me, and told me I could do it. Every child has hopes and dreams and needs someone who believes in them fully and unconditionally.”  (Photo: Courtesy of Rep. Marcia Fudge)

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Rep. Marcia Fudge (Ohio) - “The best advice my mother gave me was simple. She told me I could be whatever I wanted to be and that if you work hard, God will bless you. Whether I was going out for the field hockey team or declaring my candidacy for mayor, she was always my compass and my confidante," says Rep. Fudge, who posed for this mother-daughter portrait as a young girl. "She believed in me, and told me I could do it. Every child has hopes and dreams and needs someone who believes in them fully and unconditionally.” (Photo: Courtesy of Rep. Marcia Fudge)

Rep. Brenda Lawrence (Michigan) - “My grandmother had a saying that I often use and reflect upon when focusing on the power of community and how we can, and should, all work together to build one another up: ‘You belong at any table you sit at, no one is better than you. But don’t you ever walk by someone in need without lending a hand, because you are no better than anyone else. We all rise together,’” shares Rep. Lawrence of her grandmother, pictured here, who raised her.  (Photo: Courtesy Rep. Jennifer Lawrence)

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Rep. Brenda Lawrence (Michigan) - “My grandmother had a saying that I often use and reflect upon when focusing on the power of community and how we can, and should, all work together to build one another up: ‘You belong at any table you sit at, no one is better than you. But don’t you ever walk by someone in need without lending a hand, because you are no better than anyone else. We all rise together,’” shares Rep. Lawrence of her grandmother, pictured here, who raised her. (Photo: Courtesy Rep. Jennifer Lawrence)

Rep. Terri Sewell (Alabama) - "My mom taught me that I need to define who I am, rather than allow society to make assumptions about me," says Rep. Sewell, pictured here with her parents at her Oxford University graduation. "We have the chance to define ourselves and the role that we want to play in our communities. Never let anyone place limitations on you, or prevent you from being the person whom you were meant to be."  (Photo: courtesy of Rep. Terry Sewell)

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Rep. Terri Sewell (Alabama) - "My mom taught me that I need to define who I am, rather than allow society to make assumptions about me," says Rep. Sewell, pictured here with her parents at her Oxford University graduation. "We have the chance to define ourselves and the role that we want to play in our communities. Never let anyone place limitations on you, or prevent you from being the person whom you were meant to be." (Photo: courtesy of Rep. Terry Sewell)