How to be a good mom mentor

Having a “big sister” in the parenting battle can make all the difference. Here are tips for being a great mom mentor for your friends and family.

Read more: Mommy mentor: Why every mom needs one>

A version of this article was published in our May 2013 issue with the headline "Mommy mentor," pp. 50-3.

If you’re always talking, you’ll miss how her situation might differ from yours.

While the answer to another mom’s dilemma might seem obvious, it’s not to her. You may be ahead in the game, but you were once in her shoes.

Read more: An open letter to moms who judge>

If you can’t recall what it was like, you can’t relate.

Sometimes the solution is just having someone who nods and understands.

Read more: Bringing empathy into the classroom>

Advice is most helpful if it’s useful soon. Telling moms about what’s coming too far down the road can scare them silly.

You may be her mentor, but you can learn from the new kid on the block, too!