I was one lucky kid.

My mom was a great teacher, and I was fortunate enough to have her teaching me before she ever ran a classroom of her own.

Sadly, my mom, Grace Compston, died nearly nine years ago. As Mother’s Day approached this year and I found myself thinking about her, my thoughts turned to all that I learned from her — both as a child and as an adult.

What are some of the most important lessons you learned from your mother?

When I think back, I can hear Mom’s voice singing in many of my earliest memories of her. Whether we were at church where she sang hymns with the choir or riding home in the car or in the kitchen while she was doing housework, she was always singing. That taught me that music was important and a key to enjoying life,

Mom also taught me to rhyme and to use rhythm, not just to perform music but also to trick my brain into remembering something just a little more quickly.

She was always sharing tricks and devices like that: I memorized the last four digits of our phone number by learning that 4 plus 5 plus 0 equals 9 — our number was 484-4509. Same thing with our ZIP code 4+3=7 and 1 more makes 8 — 43718.

Mom practically squirmed in discomfort when she taught me about the birds and the bees, but she did it because she knew it was important. She also taught me — by example — that it matters how you act and what impression you make on others.

She taught me practical things, such as how to balance a checkbook, how to organize a file cabinet and how to advocate for oneself.

Mom taught me basic cooking skills, and she taught me some of the recipes that my family now relies on me to prepare. She taught me how to take care of myself and how to stand up for myself and not to take unnecessary risks.

Mom taught me dozens of songs and jingles from days long before I was born — some of which no one would sing in public these days.

Most of all, though, Mom taught me how to love other people just like she did — with her whole heart.