My mother was very encouraging to my brothers and I. She became a single mother of 3 in the 50's. The era of time when being a single mom was NOT fashionable and gave cause to many a wagging tongue. But she never once let those rumors affect her or us children. She held her proud and taught us to do the same. Every day Mom would say, "I have faith in you. You can do whatever you set your mind too."
Even though rumors flew faster than a jet in our neighborhood, they sure didn't stop us kids. All three of us grew up to be successful business people.