NEW YORK — When kids are in school, parents can sometimes be a source of embarrassment. For some lucky students however, their classmates look at them as having the “cool” parents. While it may have been rare in school, nearly seven in 10 Americans now identify their mom as “the cool mom.”
That’s according to a new survey of 2,000 American adults who picked out the attributes they think set their mothers apart from the parenting pack.
So what makes a mom cool?
Among the 68 percent of respondents who say they have a “cool mom,” 62 percent believe it’s because she talked with her kids openly about anything and everything – suggesting that honesty really is the best policy when it comes to parenting. Relaxing the rules a bit may be another key.
Over half the poll said their mom’s coolness stems from the fact that she let them get away with things a “normal” mom wouldn’t when they were growing up. Being an epic gift-giver, or having great taste, seems to be a key trait as well. In fact, 52 percent said their mother’s tendency to spoil both her loved ones and herself is what makes her a cut above the rest.
Conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Angara.com in celebration of Mother’s Day, the survey also probed the most important lessons Americans have learned from their moms over the years. Respondents’ answers to that question ranged from how to “be responsible,” to “live in the moment,” to “how to be a super parent.”
“Don’t judge others, even if you think you have the whole story,” one respondent tells researchers.
“It’s not a crime to pamper yourself when life gets too stressful,” another person adds.
“Respect yourself and others will respect you,” another lucky American with a cool mom says.
Only the best for mom this Mother’s Day
Nearly seven in 10 respondents (68%) report that they learned how to juggle responsibilities from watching their moms “do it all” over the years.
“One of the coolest things about moms, and the role they can play in shaping who we grow up to be, is that every mother’s relationship with their child or children is different,” says Ankur Daga, Founder and CEO of Angara.com, in a statement. “It’s worth keeping your unique relationship with your mom in mind when planning how to make her feel special this Mother’s Day.”
Results also suggest that the wide variety of lessons moms teach their children of all ages are unlikely to decrease any time soon. Over six in 10 say their mom has been juggling more in the past year than she ever has before. So it’s perhaps unsurprising that three quarters of respondents think that, after a long and taxing year, their mom deserves to be fully spoiled this Mother’s Day.
A luxury getaway (18%), dining out at a fancy restaurant (16%), and fine jewelry (15%) are among the top high-end mother’s day gifts respondents would purchase to say “thanks” to mom – if they can afford it.
“Moms can be such an influential and guiding force in our lives, so it’s only natural to want to give your mom the world,” Daga adds. “But spending a lot is less important than finding a gift that’s truly ‘her’ – whether that’s honoring her birthdate with a particular color or gemstone or a special outing to her favorite restaurant.”