Thank mom for all her money lessons

Sunday is Mother’s Day. Thank me later if the date slipped your mind.

As we take the day to celebrate all that our moms do for us, let’s not forget the little things our moms taught us — the life lessons that are now habits that run on autopilot, or the routines we watched and later modeled ourselves, and now pass on to our children. If you haven’t passed on any lessons yet, we have some ideas for you.

My mom worked at a time when most of my friends’ moms didn’t and she still took care of the house, her family, and prepared three meals a day. She was also the family CFO — crunching numbers on a calculator that sat on the kitchen counter.

She taught me how to count change, helped me get my first savings account, and drove me to the bank to let me deposit my allowance. She showed me how to plan my spending and compare when shopping. When I got my first job, she helped me get a checking account, taught me how to write checks, and balance my checkbook. She told me to always keep some money set aside for emergencies, and to always try to save some of what I earned. I owe her for a lot all she taught me.

Help for today’s mom

Today’s moms and today’s money lessons aren’t all that different.

A recent survey of children and parents found that 59 percent of the children surveyed named their moms as the go-to person for money questions, ahead of other adults. And nearly three out of four parents surveyed said they have regular conversations about money with their children.

The same survey said kids want to know more about how banks and credit cards work, followed by how to manage money, how to set and achieve savings goals, investing, and the family’s financial situation.

It can be hard talking about some of these topics, especially if you’re unsure about the details. The good news is that moms (or dads) don’t have to be financial experts to answer their children’s questions.

We recently launched a series of questions and answers designed to help parents. They not only answer questions like “Where does money come from?” but they also provide information and activities to help you teach your children about goals, saving, and spending. You can also look at our answers on credit cards, student loans and more.

We also recently hosted a Twitter chat that included a number of resources and tips for parents and shared a fun way to teach kids to save by using Pinterest.

If you need more help, try calling your mom.