I was still adjusting to the first few months of being a new mom and having a very fussy baby.  At that point we were questioning (our daughter's) diagnosis of GERD and considering taking her off the doctor's medication (and trying to deal with her fussiness).  My dad reassured me that we were doing the right thing by saying, "You know best."  That made a big impression on me and helped me to feel a bit more comfortable in my new "mom" role.

The best advice I ever got was...enjoy every stage, time passes so quickly, kids grow so quick that if you blink, you'll miss it.   And of course the old standby of...this too shall pass...referring to the frustration moms feel about various stages (mostly the difficult ones!) of children's development.

The best advice I ever received from my dad was to cherish every moment with your kids because life goes by so quickly.  He also frequently reminds me to stress less about being the perfect mom, and that it is okay to give your child ice cream occasionally without feeling guilty (and he's a doctor, how funny!)

My husband's advice...very helpful to me as a new mom & as a new step-mom to his two girls. 1) Pick your battles - meaning not to battle everything, i.e. eating that last piece of broccoli, letting them wear that outfit that completely does not match instead of the dressy outfit that Gramma bought them, or sometimes even letting them choose their dinner instead of what you want them to eat. 2) Recognize when they have reached their limits...sometimes they just cannot do what they usually can - clean up, make their bed, get dressed - and understand that they may need your help today when they usually don't or maybe even just a hug will be all the motivation they need. They cannot always 'power through' things like adults. 3) Always apologize when you 'snap' at them and admit you were wrong. Also, apologize to your significant other, or anyone, in front of them when you aren't exactly on your best behavior.