My last post featured a guest, my friend Liz Williams, who wrote about learning to really listen to her children. (Not always easy since she has six!)

This week I thought I’d share some related links. Communicating with our children is so important–how we listen, what we do, what we say.

In “Fighting to Make Your Girl a Priority” on the Out of the Ordinary blog, Melissa confronts the notion that girls don’t want to be mentored by their own moms.

“Throughout my daughter’s life, she’d heard me talk about teaching youth and adults in Sunday School. She’d seen me invite women into my home for Bible study. I am ashamed that, until her 6th grade year, she’d never been the focus of my ministry to women.”

In “Raising Daughters in a World that Devalues Them” on her family and ministry blog We Are THAT Family, Kristen writes about seven truths she believes all moms should share with their daughters. Here’s one:

You Don’t Have to Believe What You Hear:: She needs to hear your affirming voice in her head. Because there will be mean girls in her life, peers with pressure and adults in her world who will let her down and have low expectations of her. She needs to hear the opposite at home, your voice will lead her to Him and she’ll know who to listen to.

I also want to tell you about a new book from Brenda Garrison, author of Queen Mom: A Royal Plan for Restoring Order in Your Home; Princess Unaware: Finding the Fabulous in Every Day; and He’s Not a Mind Reader and Other Brilliant Insights for a Fabulous First Year of Marriage.

Brenda’s new book is Love No Matter What: When Your Kids Make Decisions You Don’t Agree With. She wrote it with her oldest daughter, Katie, who provides her perspective at the end of each chapter. Brenda tells not only her family’s story (Katie abruptly moved out of the house while still a teenager and with no financial support) but those of families dealing with a variety of issues.

I haven’t read the book yet, but I know Brenda and her heart for the Lord and for families, and I’m confident this new book is a valuable resource. The reviews at amazon.com site seem to agree. I hope you’ll check it out.

P.S. This post seems dedicated to daughters … I’ll have to give equal time to sons sometime soon!

DIANE