10 Life Lessons Learned From Animal Moms (As Told With YouTube Videos)

We’ve been celebrating Mother’s Day all week here at From Hop To Pop. Tuesday’s post, a gallery of Mom tattoos, tackled a decidedly human phenomena, but today we’re digging into the animal kingdom for inspiration. Posted below, then, are 10 life lessons that we’ve gleaned from doting animal moms (both biological and surrogate), as told with YouTube videos.

1. Sharing is caring. Take the cat in the video below, who nurses an orphaned bunny along with her litter. A-DORBS.

[YouTube]

2. Ask for help when you need it. In this next clip, an elephant gives her baby a much-needed push at a time of need.

[YouTube]

3. Keep up appearances. Daily grooming sessions are a great way to bond, as demonstrated by this tigress and her cub. (I can’t stop marveling at her tongue, it’s HUGE.)

[YouTube]

4. Shower children with affection. And they in turn will learn to love.

[YouTube]

5. Be yourself, stand tall. Take this pug, for instance. She’s fab, fearless, and accessorized with a pink umbrella. She’s also pushing a pair of (plush) pugs in a stroller. On a sunny day. In Portland. MIND = OFFICIALLY BLOWN.

[YouTube]

6. Expect the unexpected. Roll with the punches, like this dog that adopted a panther cub.

[YouTube]

7. Practice makes perfect. You have to start small. Case in point: this otter and her pup’s introduction to swimming. SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

[YouTube]