Turns out, moms have always known what they're talking about (we just needed a little time to catch up!). This Mother's Day, we asked the team at Smith & Berg Property Group to share a lesson from the mom or mother figure in their life that still guides them today. The answers were as warm, funny, and quietly profound as the women who inspired them.
F. RON SMITH
I have three strong, spirited, and opinionated moms: I’ve grown to listen, learn, and love them.
DAVID BERG
Diet Coke, no ice, wedge of lemon.
ROBERT MORTON
The photo on the left is my mother on her 90th birthday…if this is 90, I’m in. Luckily she is still with us at 95. She's always told me, "accept people the way they are.”
SEWIT ESHETU
Family first, always. Stay grounded. My mom has always encouraged independence and taught me to think for myself.
LARA ALNASER
My mom is a doctor and a mother of five, and somehow she’s always managed to do it all. I still don’t know how, but she’s definitely is my role model. Her strength, resilience, and dedication have always inspired me. She taught me that nothing worthwhile comes easy, and that every step forward no matter how small is still progress. Because of her, I’ve learned to trust myself, stay curious, and never settle for less than what I dream of.
NATHAN STADLER
My mom always said: It’s nice to be important. But it’s more important to be nice.
KATY YAMBAO
My mom is incredibly loving, strong and selfless. All throughout her life she has taught me that women can overcome absolutely anything… and when things feel overwhelming, getting outside and going for a nice long (beach) walk always makes everything better!
BRANDON SMITH
My mom used to love quoting Jamie Lee Curtis in Freaky Friday, screaming “make good choices!” at maximally embarrassing moments. Simple and effective. She knew that we knew what she meant.
My grandma leads by example, showing me constantly that life is best lived when you leave nothing on the table and make the most out of every opportunity to make a memory.
JORDAN KRAMER
My mom has been a pilates teacher for about 40 years, and she always stressed the importance of flexibility — both mentally and physically.
COURTNEY WELSH
Every good thing I’ve done as a mom is a direct result of my own mother. Plus, in my opinion, she looks her most beautiful when holding her grandchildren.
KRISTA MASELLA
I’ve been lucky to grow up with not just one incredible mother, but two: my mom, Mary, and my Aunt Deb, who was like a second mom to me. They met in the third grade and spent their lives supporting each other, showing me the true meaning of friendship and community. When my mom needed help raising me due to her career, Aunt Deb was there.
Together, they passed down a legacy of enduring love, endless laughter, and unwavering support that shaped who I am today. Because of their example, I’ve built my own tribe of lifelong friends, and that is a gift I’ll always be grateful for.
NATALIE GUREVITCH
One of my favorite lines from my mom, which holds more weight nowadays than in my youth, is…“never save the best for last — someone or something else may get there first.”
ASMIK SHYROIAN
My mom has always been the spark behind my creativity, the one who never doubted my wild ideas, no matter how big or unconventional they seemed. She taught me to keep going even when things felt uncertain or difficult. Thanks to her, I learned to chase my dreams boldly and to truly believe in myself.
