Life is about relationships. We earn and keep the right to
speak into our children’s lives through a continuing flow of being intentional
and present in their lives . . . time over time over time . . .
For all of my children’s young years, I invested in loving
them . . . rocking them to sleep at night, reading them bedtime stories, saying
their prayers with them.
I had an urgent sense to be intentional in my time with them
. . . leaving the dishes in the sink to sit and play with them, going on rain
walks in July, swimming on lazy summer days, tickling my son’s back and hearing
his thoughts before he fell asleep each night – even when all I wanted to do
was lay my weary bones down.
And when they were babies, I realized there were no
guarantees in life except a loving heavenly Father, so I . . . memorized
scripture with them, told them bible stories, read them present day stories of
great God-followers . . . all the while praying that Jesus would become their
very best friend.
And yet, a year before my daughter was about to enter middle
school, I heard about the “stuff” our kids face today, and froze. I had never
faced some of the issues present in our schools, and I’m an adult. I remember
where I was standing when I uttered the silent prayer, “God, how do I allow my
daughter to live in this world, and yet not be like this world?”
That was when the idea of First Friday Friends was birthed. I armed myself with my very closest mama friends and shared
my heart with them. We came up with things we wanted to share with our girls
while they were still open to hearing our hearts and loving time with us. We
invited other moms and daughters who would be journeying alongside us during
this same season of life. Forty moms and daughters said “yes” to the
invitation. There is a hunger to join in community and do life together.
Fun was imperative. So we set up the evening with a game, an
engaging story that teaches a lesson, time for chatting, a craft, and of
course, a sweet treat to end the evening.
I thought it was about teaching a lesson, and it was, but
what I didn't realize is that it was equally important to build community with
other like-minded moms and daughters. It was equally important to keep the
communication lines open between me and my daughter. It was equally important
for all the girls to see that they were not alone in living life different than
what the world says.
My daughter is in college now. We still have regular times
for coffee and chats. We still talk on the phone almost every day. When we are
together, we still climb in the car just for car talk. We jokingly call these
times our “mommy and me” time.
And though she is grown, I am still intentional, and I am
still present . . . time over time over time . . . and the cool thing is . . .
she is too. And my son, well, I am his favorite “talk show” commute on
the way to work, and I love it! . . . time over time over time.
About Catherine Miller and her Mother/Daughter relationship
books.
Heart to Heart provides a Biblical foundation for making
choices in today’s world. The material is filled with real-life stories and fun
activities that encourage authentic and thoughtful conversations as it builds
and grows relationships. First Friday Friends is designed for mothers and
daughters to have the opportunity to discuss some of the current day issues and
make decisions about tough dilemmas before our daughters encounter them. Some
daughters may have a general idea of their ideas and standards, but it's likely
most of them haven't yet been put into a place where they've needed to make a
hard stance. First Friday Friends mother daughter relationship books allows for
a safe and gentle place to create open dialogue and make choices for the
future. It creates the opportunity to instill values and partner with
like-minded mothers and daughters on the journey.
While there are many books written on parenting and how to
raise your daughter or teenager, First Friday Friends is designed to engage you
with your daughter and with other mothers and daughters in the same season of
life. It's designed to open discussion, develop new friendships, deepen
existing ones, and of course....make super fun memories! Enjoy the journey!
Click on the books for a preview!
Click on the books for a preview!
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