Dana Hilmer is the founder of LifestyleMom, the mission of which is to empower, entertain and inspire women to create a family life and “me life” that they truly love. She is the host of the LifestyleMom Radio Café and the author of Blindsided by a Diaper. Here's what this Connecticut mother of three has to say:

"Knowing me now, you would never guess I was a shy kid. I was the Velcro kid, the kid that clung to my mother’s side. Starting school I was quiet and timid, worried that I’d say something stupid, that someone would be mean. My mother’s advice became a constant refrain.

'Don’t worry, honey; they won’t bite.'

In my first couple of years of school, I hung tight to a couple of friends, never straying too far from my comfort zone. During gym, the ritual of picking teams was torture, and on more than one occasion, I got off the bus in a puddle of tears.

'Don’t worry, honey; they won’t bite.'

By third grade, we already had two moves under our belt, with two more to go by the time I finished high school. I became the perpetual new kid in town, and with each move I’d get the pep talk and the reminder:

'Don’t worry, honey; they won’t bite.'

But then a funny thing happened.…By the time we moved our fourth time, and I was in eighth grade, I came out of my shell. I didn’t just gain the courage to talk; I gained a true love of meeting people and of speaking. I became a chatterbox, a giggle machine, and her refrain become something more like, 'Won’t you ever shut up?!'

My mom died three years ago, before my book was published and before she could hear me chatting with all sorts of amazing women on my own radio talk show. I’ve come a long way since my Velcro days, but sometimes when I hear that small little timid voice in my head, I still hear her say, 'Don’t worry, honey; they won’t bite.'"

Jodi Selander provides postpartum support to new mothers in Southern Nevada. She founded the website PlacentaBenefits.info and frequently writes about natural postpartum recovery. Here's what this Las Vegas mother of two young daughters has to say:

"When I became a mother, the best advice my mother gave me was to remember to take care of myself. This has proven to be very true, but not as simple as it might seem. Making time for ourselves when it seems that everyone around us needs our energy and attention can be difficult. But besides being Mom, Mama, Mommy, we are also our own person with our own needs. As a mother, if we don't take care of ourselves, there is no way we can take care of the rest of our family. There's a reason that the airplane safety protocols have you put on your own oxygen mask before assisting others! Make time to rest, to eat healthy meals, to have the time to practice your own unique talents and the hobbies you enjoy. As our family's main nurturer, we have to have the energy to give the care and attention our family requires. Children don't want a martyr, they want a mother. So take care of yourself—your family will thank you for it!"

Robin Arnold Shatzkin is the owner of Autumn Kiss Alpacas (www.autumnkissalpacas.com). Robin currently has five alpacas and another on the way in late spring. An avid knitter and animal lover, the alpaca business seemed a perfect combination of two special passions. Here's what this Long Island mother of one has to say:

"The best thing my mother ever told me? Follow your heart…it will always lead you to the right place. Now, over the years, my heart has led me to some interesting destinations, but none as wonderful as the last time I used it as an internal GPS. When I called my mother and told her that I was going to buy my first alpaca, she didn't say, 'WHAT?' or 'You're kidding, right?' She calmly said, 'Wow! How interesting!' Thankfully, I took her advice and started a new phase of my adult life that has raised many an eyebrow and created many a smile. My mother has helped me through some tough decisions in this new venture but has always been steadfast in her belief that my heart was true, and the rest of me would eventually follow.

As a mother myself, I often try to pass this advice along to my own daughter, who tends to think more like my husband, with her head. They don't always understand my path but are always supportive. When I think of the advice that most daughters claim they received over the years, I consider myself rather lucky, as I haven't been plagued with the typical 'Don't run with scissors' and 'Always be a lady.' While these are useful tidbits, I appreciate the gentle nudge to trust myself and my ability to know what's right. My alpacas are happy with me as their owner…they are loved and cared for. My yarn customers are happy with my decision to own alpacas because they now have amazing yarn to knit with. My husband and daughter are glad that I followed my heart because I am calmer, happier and on the road to a successful new phase of my life. So thanks to my mother, I followed my heart once again. But please don't tell her that you know that I took her advice. She may start offering more that won't be as much fun!"