Do you remember your mother's friends? Did she have great girlfriends?

My recent podcast with Kris Radish included her memories of her own mother and her girlfriends, laughing, smoking, cocktailing together. Even if my mother didn't do that, I now wish she had!

After listening, my girlfriend Colleen (my walking girlfriend with my other friend Allison), wrote me:

By the way, I listened to your podcast with Kris the other day while eating lunch. I really enjoyed it...especially the part when she was talking about her mom and her mom's girlfriends. It reminded me of something that I had not thought of for so long and just made me so happy. My mom died so young and has been gone for 23 years now. Mom and her friends used to sit around our kitchen table laughing so hard and wiping away tears from laughing. I remember as a kid thinking --- What could those old women think is THAT funny? They would laugh and talk for hours. What a hoot.

Thanks Kris for that walk down memory lane that Colleen hadn't taken in years. It really was a blessing to her.

Do you remember your mom and her girlfriends? Did they laugh? Smoke? Sneak cocktails? Bitch about life?!

Be the kind of girlfriend you'd like your daughters to be. Take time for your girlfriends. Show them how important they are to you. Make memories for your daughters that will influence them for life.

Thanks Colleen! Thanks again Kris! Girlfriends deserve thanks, attention and love. Show it!

Girlfriend Groups - do you have one?

I planned not to go to my girlfriend group tonight. My web guy was supposed to meet with me on some updates so I cancelled the group - then he cancelled our meeting. My friend Tina called me right after I got his email, while I was still extremely frustrated with him. (He hasn't been easy to work with! I knew I should have hired a woman!) She was going to our girlfriend group and talked me into going, even if I was late.

What a great thing that was! We laughed, caught up on life, had some wine, shared our lives. All the stress disappeared as the friendships (and laughter) brought me back to the good things in life - girlfriends, good friends, people who love you and whom you love. Life is good. Girlfriends are great.

Do you have a girlfriend group? What is the basis of it - an activity? Something you have in common? A book club or garden group? Croppers or knitters? Spinners or yoga goddesses?! Having a group of women to support you is vital to your happiness, stability, patience with other things in life and your self confidence*.

Thanks Tina for calling and for prompting me to come to our group tonight. (Thanks too to Paula for hosting! Becky for feeding! and Judy for sharing and for listening to and enjoying the Kris Radish podcast!) Let Girlfriendology know about your group. Why is it special to you? What do you recommend in starting a girlfriend group?

If you don't have a girlfriend group, maybe you should start one. Make 'no stress' rules and invite your girlfriends to bring others. I'm sure you'll find them the perfect way to de-stress your day. Share your thoughts on comments or email ideas@girlfriendology.com. And keep meeting. Keep inspiring. Keep appreciating and keep celebrating girlfriends. Life is good. Girlfriends are great. (Thanks Tina - and Paula, Becky and Judy!)

*Join our next podcast for information on how having girlfriends affects your self esteem. Any questions on this subject, please let Girlfriendology know!