Why Moms Are Secretly PR Pros

It’s the last of the family weekends here at OHIO and arguably the best one—Moms Weekend. Our moms teach us a lot of things, like how to be confident, how to be compassionate and how to be so frugal (at least my mom taught me that). Honestly though, our moms have also taught us imPRessive Scripps kids how to be PR pros because secretly, they are the PR pros themselves. You want to know how I know this? I know this because everything that it takes to be successful in public relations, or any type of storytelling for that matter, I’ve learned from my mom.

Moms are flexible: You remember that day you had a serious dilemma because you couldn’t figure out how to do your laundry at almost midnight, so you called your mom? Yeah, I remember that. Anytime I need my mom, she’s flexible enough to fit me into her schedule because I matter to her. Flexibility is crucial in PR.

Thanks to mom, we can be builders of meaningful relationships: Mom was the first person to ask me if I had made any friends after my first day of school. She was also the first person to tell me that it’s okay to let go of a relationship that isn’t good for you. Because of mom, I’m able to cultivate relationships with peers, adults and mentors that mean something to me.

Honesty, the strongest quality, came from mom: When that paper didn’t sound good or she told me something that I didn’t want to hear, I now know, it was for my own good. If she couldn’t be honest with me, could I be honest with myself or others? No. Being honest in your work and with others can propel you both professionally and personally.

Moms notice EVERYTHING: I used to think that I could get away with nearly everything, but the truth is, I never could because my mom is quick to notice detail and pays attention to every bit of it. That attention to detail is the reason I, and others, love to edit and review others’ work so every detail is right and flows together nicely.

My mom taught be how to have thick skin: Criticism can hurt, but mom taught me not to take everything to heart. In this field, you will be told where improvement is needed, and you are expected to act upon that. The work is what is being criticized, not you.

Moms were PR pros before we ever thought about being one, and thanks to mom, we are able to thrive in this growing and amazing field. On this moms weekend, be sure to thank her for everything she’s done for you. Give her a call, go out to eat with her, just tell her you love her. I promise, she needs you just as much as you need her.