Tacy Newell-Foutz and stepdaughter Niki Foutz

Krisha Chachra and her mother, Ranjana Chachra

Rosalie Paige and daughter Penny Franklin

Sonia Ramsey; her mother, Leona Ramsey; her oldest son, Stevie Ramsey; her youngest son, Madison Ramsey

Sherry Kobia and son Micah Kobia

Carolyn Pietrzak and daughter Holly Pietrzak

Mary Taub and daughter Phyllis Albritton

Jessica Lollar with her mom, Tammy Lollar

From left: Mary, Donita, Maddie and Hope Price

From left: Vicki Sciaretta, daughter Erica Williams and granddaughter Madison Williams

Karen Walters and her mother, Dorothy Simms

Patty Haugh and son Mitchell Haugh

"I think the best and most useful piece of advice is something she must have read somewhere, but it has greatly affected the way I operate and conduct myself in social settings -- it is quite possibly one of the greatest lessons that I use every day to be a successful writer, columnist, communicator and friend: 'Interest is the sincerest form of respect. If you want to show respect to someone quickly, show sincere interest. Politely ask questions and actively listen to their answers.' "

-- Krisha Chachra, Blacksburg

"When you give your word, keep it. When you say you're going to do something, do it." That's the advice Dorothy Simms instilled in her daughter, Christiansburg's insurance payroll clerk. "It's hard sometimes, but I try to follow that advice."

-- Karen Walters, Christiansburg

"My mom always told me to never say 'yes' immediately -- to go home, talk, think and pray about it before you make a decision. Never make a decision on the spot." Tammy Lollar said she passed that advice on to her daughter from experience. Lollar, an accountant at Main Street Baptist Church, has found she makes wiser decisions after reflection and prayer.

-- Jessica Lollar, Christiansburg

Kathy Tangalakis impressed the oldest of her three children with her magnanimous guidance: "She taught me to be quick to forgive, to see people in faith rather than where they are at the moment."

-- Sarah Breinich, Christiansburg

Vicki Sciarretta always preached that "pretty is as pretty does." "That means you better act the way you want people to perceive you. If you are nice, people will see that you are nice. If you are kind, people will see that you are kind. It can be substituted with any adjective almost. Nice, kind, smart, polite." Perhaps that advice helped Sciarretta's daughter become clerk of Montgomery County Circuit Court.

-- Erica Williams, Christiansburg

Tacy Newell-Foutz is a stepmother, but not an evil stepmother. In fact, her stepdaughter calls her "my utter-mutter." "She's pretty much my mom. She's so laid-back, and she doesn't give a lot of advice. But we have a picture hanging in our house that says, 'We put the fun in dysfunctional.' Life -- you have to take it as it comes. I think that's the message. Blood doesn't mean a whole lot. It's who's around and who cares."

-- Nikki Foutz, Christiansburg

Having twins isn't easy. But Donita Price's twin daughters say their mother's advice has made life a little easier for them. When Mary Price brought home a report card with a 'D' on it, Donita Price told her not to give up, to keep trying. And when Maddie Price has boyfriend troubles, her mother is quick to point out that boys come and go but family is always there for support and comfort. Both the twins and Price's older daughter say her mother's main message is school, school, school. Because she insisted they go to college, the twins are now juniors at Radford University. Their sister is a 2004 Radford University graduate.

-- Mary and Maddie Price and Hope Price, Christiansburg

It's hard for Montgomery County Parks and Recreation Director Mitchell Haugh to recall his mother's best advice because she gave so much of it. "Treat everyone the same," "Tell the truth," "Go to church every Sunday" and "Don't stay out too late," were just a few. "My mom was always supportive of my school and my dreams, as far as recreation, what I wanted to do. She always told me that I could do anything I wanted to do if I set my heart to it."

-- Mitchell Haugh, Christiansburg

Leona Ramsey has for years passed on her wisdom to her daughter not verbally, but through unconditional love. "During the good times, the bad times, and all the in-between times, my mother has always been there. She has been a mentor, a confidant, and a friend. It is because of the love that she has shown me throughout my life that I have learned how to love my children unconditionally and without limit."

-- Sonia Ramsey, Radford

This public official has her mother to thank for the first dollar she earned. "My mom got me a job. The new Hardee's, when it opened in Christiansburg, we drove to the parking lot and she said, 'Go in and get your uniform.' " Franklin was 16 then and a few years later had worked her way up to manage the burger joint.

-- Montgomery County school board member Penny Franklin, Christiansburg

Pat Woodruff has taught her children a lot more than their lines. Although Woodruff has assisted 13-year-old Coriander and 17-year-old Cameron with each play they've participated in as part of the Young Actors Co-Op, she's also helpful off-stage. "She taught me a lot of stuff about how to help my friends and do stuff with them, which is good. Like if one of my friends is having something bad happen in their life, like they didn't like their dad yelling at them or something and I didn't know how to help them, I'd go ask my mom."

-- Coriander Woodruff, Floyd

When Montgomery County school board member Phyllis Albritton turned 70, she read a list of some of the best maxims her parents had given her over the years. This one from her mother is what she tries to live by the most. "You are only as old as you feel." Also her mother would say, "God takes care of fools and children and I'm both." Albritton said she tries to disregard age and just live life.

-- Phyllis Albritton, Blacksburg

The best advice Floyd County mom Sherry Kobia passed on to her son, a Blacksburg police officer, is simple: "Follow your heart."

-- Micah Kobia, Christiansburg

Carolyn Pietrzak lives more than 400 miles from her only child in California, Pa., but her advice to her daughter, the New River Valley Newsroom chief for WDBJ (Channel 7), has rang true time and again: "What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger."

-- Holly Pietrzak, Christiansburg

Mary Pettitt, the Chief Deputy Montgomery County Commonwealth's Attorney, expected life to be great when she started college with an academic scholarship and chance to play college basketball. But she found that the college wasn't a good fit for her. "I was very unhappy and called my mom talking about quitting and going home. Her advice was, 'Stick it out and get some credit for your hard work and tuition and transfer at the end of the semester.' I transferred to William and Mary, graduated, and of course later graduated from Richmond Law."

-- Mary Pettitt, Christiansburg