Ask any mother who’s made a man out of a son and she’ll tell you: teaching is never a one-way street. In fact, the moms and sons you’ll see here can attest to that very ethos. But enough from us, we’ll let them do the talking.

“The best advice Adam ever gave me was five years ago, when he said, ‘Mom, there’s this thing called Twitter and it’s going to be huge!’ I finally listened to him two years later. My son has a great ability to take an emotional crisis and assimilate the data into one insightful conclusion, which has come in handy over this last year. Adam does not have any age bias and has fun with all generations with genuine enjoyment — and that includes giving them a hard time when necessary! I get some of my best lines from him.”
Marilyn Denis, TV host

“One cold day in December, my brother Marc and I were downtown with our mom when we saw a homeless man trying to keep warm. My mom stopped, bent down and said, ‘How are you?’ Then, she asked him his name and then asked if he’d found shelter from the cold the night before. As she slipped a few dollars into his hand, she gathered us close and wished him a good day. Her actions made us realize that homelessness is not just a statistic; every person has a face, a name and a story to tell.”
Craig Kielburger, co-founder of Free The Children

“My son taught me a valuable lesson I needed to learn — that everyone moves and grows and changes at their own pace, by no one’s schedule or timetable. He also has a calmness of spirit and a kindness that I admire and learn from. The most shocking thing about being a parent is realizing that, if we are really paying attention, we learn more than we teach and that our children are who they are from the moment they are born. We just have to love them into being the best of that.”
Debra McGrath, actor and writer

“The best lesson my mother taught me was that regardless of what you do in life do it humbly. I come from a very honest background. No matter what success I achieved with Glass Tiger, I was always brought back down to earth as soon I walked into the front door [of my parents’ home]. I would say to her, ‘Hey, Mom, I just played in Munich for seven nights straight with Tina Turner,’ to which she would reply with, ‘Oh, that’s great. Can you go to Mac’s Milk and get a loaf of bread?’ That’s always been present in who I am.”
Alan Frew, lead singer of Glass Tiger

“The most important lesson my son has taught me is about grace under pressure. This past year, Ezra had to miss his first year of college to recover from a serious leg injury. Throughout the hospitalizations, surgeries and the difficult rehab, he has maintained a positive attitude and his quirky sense of humour. His motto? ‘It sucks but it could be worse.’ His ability to suffer and heal with dignity and discipline has been an inspiration for me.”
Amy Sky, singer and songwriter

“My mom has always had this omniscience about her. It’s like a sixth sense. Which is why it’s difficult to pick the most important thing she ever taught me — there have been so many. But I guess I’d say it was to always see my part in things. And that ambition without humility can never result in true success. Those are some important words to live by. She’s a smart lady. I try to keep that in mind every day.”
Dan Levy, actor and TV host

“Whenever I veered into overorganizing my children, my son Jack would call me ‘Mother Presley.’ He let my imagination do the work. I figured out that Mother Presley was too demanding and put too much emphasis on food groups and after-school activities. Mummy was more laid-back and enjoyed talking to children. Keeping Mother Presley at bay is a great life lesson given to me by an experienced and caring teacher.”
Martha Burns, actor

“The best lesson my mom taught me was a daily reminder that ‘You are better and you can do better,’ even when I felt I was doing well. She taught me how to push myself and strive for excellence in every part of my life. That constant drive and reminder helps me every day, both on and off the court.”
Milos Raonic, professional ATP tennis player

“My sons Scotty and Jack have likely taught me more than I’ve taught them. By their example I have been reminded of the innocence and earnestness we are all born with, but which melt like marshmallows in the fire of the years, giving way to a crisp, hardened exterior. I’ve been able to relive my childhood through them. They are forgiving, they are present, they are refreshingly honest. I strive daily to be more like them.”
Heather Hartt-Sussman, children’s book author

“One of the most important lessons my mother taught me was the value of education and that I was to go get one! Education for me symbolizes growth. As an artist, I am fortunate that my education is not limited to any particular expertise, but rather to the infinite possibilities of the imagination. To live is to learn. Thanks, Mom. Love you.”
Lyriq Bent, actor