Top 10 Traits Influential Moms in History Have in Common
Influential moms in history have some very strong traits in common, today we're choosing our favorite traits and Cubo's favorite influential moms who personify those traits!
WithInternational Women's Day coming up , we thought we’d celebrate the women we cater to most here at Cubo, moms, by celebrating the top 10 traits influential moms in history have in common. While not all women parent the same, moms tend to have that little something extra; that superpower that makes them a little more capable, a little more knowledgeable, and overall superhumans.
Whether you’re a mom, your sister’s a mom, or you just really love your own, we know you’ll find at least one of these traits in a mom in your life and be reminded of the hard work they do.
Say “happy international women’s day” to her by sharing this article with them.
1. Hard-working
Have you ever known a mom to say no because they’ve got “too much work”? No! They’re much more likely to take on more work than others think they’re capable of. Moms have a way of doing it all and still having time to give their children affection, support, and everything they need to be healthy children and, eventually, successful adults. Influential moms in history worked hard to become what they are and they make it look effortless!
Cubo’s #1 Hard-working mom in history: Marie Curie
Marie Curie raised two daughters alone after she lost her husband in an accident. She was a mom, a scientist, a Nobel Prize recipient. She did it all while raising amazing children, one of which went on to win a Nobel Prize of her own. She taught her children “one must do some work seriously must be independent and not merely amuse oneself in life.”
We hear you Marie Curie, and we all strive to be the mom that you were.
Photo: Wikipedia
2. Support of Other Women
Whether they’re mothers of girls or not, moms support other women because they know that when women are supported and raised up by their peers, their family, their government, they achieve more and live up to their potential. Influential moms in history know that there is no success without a support system to help you when things get hard, when your children are young, when they get sick or when the weight seems too heavy. Women who receive support give other women the same treatment.
Cubo’s #1 Supportive mom in history: Abigail_Adams
Abigail Adams was the wife of the second president of the United States and First Lady. She spent a lot of time at their farm alone, running it on her own. Though the farm is full-time work, she still found the time to write letters supporting equal rights for women in a time when this wasn’t a popular conversation. She also supported the abolition of slavery and educated five children, including future president John Quincy Adams who said the following about her: "My mother was an angel upon earth. She was a minister of blessing to all human beings within her sphere of action. Her heart was the abode of heavenly purity… She was the real personification of female virtue, of piety, of charity, of ever active and never intermitting benevolence."
Not only did she support her family who made it big in Washington (not long after Washington himself,) she also did her best to support fellow women all while running her household.
3. Courage
Influential moms know that it’s not easy to stand up for yourself and your family when the going gets rough. It takes a lot of courage to do what’s right and get your loved ones’ needs met. Who best to stand up for us than our mom? Moms can’t see a child in danger. A suffering child anywhere is a weight on mothers everywhere, even if their own children are fine.
Cubo’s #1 Courageous mom in history: Irena Sendler
Irena was a Polish Employee at the Warsaw Social Welfare Department during the Holocaust who smuggled almost 2500 Jewish children out of the Warsaw ghetto, saving their lives! Even after she was caught by Nazi authorities, she never gave away the location of the children. Her own three children grew up with few difficulties, and she later received Poland’s Order of the White Eagle award in 2003.
Photo of Sendler below: Wikipedia
4. Service
A mother’s job is never over and we know that even when the lights are off and the master bedroom is closed, mom is still working on something for her kids. The amount of service that moms give tirelessly and without complaints is astonishing! This extends to their community, their church, their extended family, their friends, and even those in other countries.
Cubo’s #1 Helpful mom in history: Kathy Headlee
This influential mom in history, mother of 7, including an adopted child from Romania, started Mothers Without Borders to help orphaned children in countries such as Bolivia, Bosnia, Guatemala, India, Mexico, Zimbabwe, Uganda, and Nepal. Mothers Without Borders sends Trained Volunteers to all of these countries to help children and distribute supplies to those who lack them. We’re not saying dads wouldn’t do this, but if it’s up to someone to create a foundation to help orphans all over the world, you best believe there’s a mom behind it.
5. Perseverance
“No,” doesn’t mean “no” for a mother fighting for her kids. Imagine Erin Brockovich but for anything child-related and Julia Roberts is every mom ever. Have you ever called to tell your mom to tell her the world is being hard on you? Then you’ll know she will take it very seriously and you’re going to have to protect the world from her. Once a mom takes up a cause, she’s not likely to abandon it.
Cubo #1 Persevering mom: J.K. Rowling
Though J.K. Rowling’s life now may not be one of struggle and failure, back when was first writing her now world-famous Harry Potter series, she was having a hard time. She was a single mother, received state benefits, and was rejected so many times she lost count. Luckily, she persevered and she though everyone told her children wouldn’t read long chapter books, she knew better and her intuition led her to become literary royalty.
For Mother’s Day 2016 in the UK, she tweeted: “Today's Mother's Day in the UK. If your mum isn't here to treat, do something nice for yourself because she's part of you. Take a hug, too.”
6. Responsibility
Some people are just born responsible. They’re the kind of kids who never forget their school supplies at home and have their homework done the night it’s assigned. They’re the adults who chose their career path years ahead of graduation and are very successful as a result. Moms, however, whether they were born with it or not, seem to gain a sense of responsibility immediately upon the birth of their first child. Suddenly they think ahead, they’re ready, they’re calm when necessary and alert when the time suggests that it’s necessary.
Cubo #1 Responsible Influential Mom: Indira Gandhi
She was the first female Prime Minister of India. She instituted a “green revolution” which made the country self-sufficient. She believed in education as a liberating and democratizing force. She was dead-set on equalizing a society riddled with underprivileged children to give them a boost and smooth out the inequalities they had no control over. She taught her two sons this sense of country and responsibility and they moved on to become politicians after her untimely death.
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7. Ambition
A mom that wants more gets more. That’s why ambitious moms make a difference. What can make you strive for more if not your own child? Ambitious, influential moms make the world bend to the needs of children, they educate others on the best practices for raising them, and they educate themselves.
Cubo’s #1 Ambitious Influential Mom in History: Dr. Dana Suskind
Another founder here, Dana Suskind is a widowed mother of three children as well as a pediatric surgeon at the University of Chicago. Anyone else getting Grey’s Anatomy vibes? Just like any of the boss moms on the hit show, this influential mom in history founded the Thirty Million Words initiative which encourages parents to talk to their babies. She developed research which showed the importance of parents interacting with and speaking to their children during the first three years of their life.
8. Relatability
Influential moms in history are able to show vulnerability and talk to other moms about how it’s not always perfect. When moms show that they also have flaws, bad days, difficult times, it makes it more rewarding to watch those successes happen.
Cubo’s #1 Relatable Influential Mom in History: Diana, Princess of Wales
Lady Di needs no introduction. She was a humanitarian, she supported children’s hospitals, raised awareness and fought landmines in Africa, among many other causes. She spoke out often about how difficult it was to be in the public eye and she still used heer privilege for good every chance she got. #relatable She taught her children well and her legacy continues to this day.
Photo: Wikipedia
9. Selflessness
The self definitely stops being #1 when you have a child. In fact, all moms sacrifice so much more than they let on. They’re not likely to give you a laundry list of all the things they’ve had to give up, give away, go without for their children. Why? They do it out of love. This selflessness comes from the purest place in a mother’s heart.
Cubo’s #1 Selfless Influential Mom in History: Angelina Jolie
Jolie’s life of privilege with a famous family and upbringing in show business didn’t blind her from the fact that most of the world lives without it. She’s now well known for her philanthropy and humanitarian work for refugees and displaced people. She adopted a child in Cambodia, several children from Ethiopia, and Vietnam. She had three children of her own and has raised them all to be healthy kids. The Wall Street Journal cited Brad Pitt saying that when she has a day off, “the first thing she does is get up and take the kids out. This is the most important ‘to do’ of the day. No matter how tired she might be, she plans outings for each and all.” The epitome of selflessness.
10. Influence
We couldn’t finish this list without being a little redundant. What is the #10 Top trait influential moms in history have in common? Influence. They know what they have (the other 9 traits) and they use it to teach others about how to be a good human. Moms are the best humans, right? We should all listen to moms more.
Cubo’s #1 Influential mom in history: Mary Maxwell Gates
Mother of Bill Gates and an extremely successful leader, she served on the board of directors for organization sand corporations in Seattle. She convinced I.B.M to hire Microsoft to create their operating system, which probably led to the massive fortune her son has today. She encouraged Bill Gates to have a spirit of philanthropy that influenced his and his wife’s impact on a variety of issues all over the world.
Photo above: Wikipedia
Can you think of other influential moms in history and traits that fit on this list? Share it and tell us on Facebook or Instagram!
Cubo Ai
Smart Baby Monitor, bird, techie, baby guru, and sleep-safety enthusiast. Cubo has a keen eye for detail, loves baby photography, and never sleeps on the job. You can find Cubo in thousands of nurseries around the world and here on the blog helping parents learn more about the topics they care about.
