Maybe it’s just the “home-school mom” in me, but I believe that we can learn something new every day if we keep our eyes, ears, and hearts open. I also believe the wheel doesn’t need to be recreated. So, in the interest of sharing some of what I have learned in the last week, and because I am ridiculously buried in papers preparing for the new school year, I am simply posting links to a some of my favorite “lessons” from the past week.
Mama lessons:
The first video, from the Today Show featuring Rachel Simmons, offers advice for raising daughters in the digital age. I read the book, Odd Girl Out, by Rachel Simmons several years ago. It’s powerful! It starts with us, Moms; let’s raise kind girls.
TODAY: Advice for raising girls in the digital age (I had my girls watch this one, too.)
And to the Amazon link where you can buy the newly revised book:
An oldie, but a goodie! This is one of my all-time favorite “Mom videos.” I was lucky enough to see Anita Renfroe perform live with one of my best friends. It is truly one of my very favorite memories; I laughed so hard I challenged my bladder control! If you ever get the chance to see her live, do it! Be sure to take along a close friend, or two, or 20. I publicly admit that I have actually sat my teens in front of this video and walked away with a simple, “What she said.”
The Mom Song with lyrics – YouTube. (With thanks to the site’s owner and Anita Renfroe because this is not my work!)
Be sure to check out Renfroe’s latest video (In Tha Muthahood) on her website at:
Wife (marriage) lessons:
Perhaps it’s just me, but I have been guilty of taking my marriage and my husband for granted more than once over the years.. Sometimes, a simple article like Prevention Magazine’s “10 Little Things Connected Couples Do” is all the pick-me-up, refocus-my-energy reminding I need. (Related to #3, at the end of the day my father would always ask my mom, “Have I made you feel loved today?” Great question to ask kids, too!)
10 Little Things Connected Couples Do – Prevention.com
Girlfriend lessons:
Though my mom had been very social in the earlier years of her marriage, I noticed how most of her friendships fell victim to the demands of 9 children. I don’t know how she did it; I know how much I depend on my support network and how grateful I am for them. Now, I have proof my “coffee dates” are healthy! (Like I needed a reason to hang with my girlfriends!)
The Hidden Benefits of Friendship – Oprah.com.
And a shout-out to the Love Grows Facebook page that brought my attention to this article:
Love Grows: The Relationship Consultants.
They have a really neat blog site, too: 🙂
http://loveisgrowing.wordpress.com/
And last, but not least, this one could be classified under either:
Gardener lessons or Home-schooling science lessons:
My sister is always looking out for me, and because she knows how important both gardening and home-schooling are to me, she sent me this link. I now share it with you, because I know how important laughter is to the world. 🙂
Happy Wednesday, everyone!
by Mary Lanzavecchia 
That video was a hoot! “It must be your father’s DNA.” :p
Your comment about nurturing friendships reminds me of discussions I had with my sister’s then-future mother-in-law, who was my landlord/roommate at the time. We’d talk a lot in the evenings, and she’d stress how important it was never to let a relationship (or anything else) get in the way of the friendships that would be the bridge over troubled waters. Her words are ones I’ve returned to again and again when feeling inclined to retreat to my native hermitlike ways!
LikeLike