Three mothers - Anne Forester, Shea Wagner, and Diana Fassbinder - share their experiences with the library and their children. The ages of the children range from 2 1/2 to 21, so you're bound to find help and encouragement about using the library as a parenting resource.

National Library Week is April 23-20. Celebrate by going to the library.

Join us to hear about all the different activities and opportunities you can find at your library. If your library doesn't have some of these activities, check with the Librarian and Library Board to see how they can help bring more experiences to your children.

Here are some resources you might enjoy:

National Library Week

6 Reasons to Take Your Kid to the Library This Week

Public Libraries: A Vital Space for Family Engagement, Harvard Family Research Project / Public Library Association

Sharon Leino shares her story of caring for her husband for 17 years, what she did to prepare, and how she maintained her emotional, physical, and mental health, including finding joy, laughter, and an occasional pity party.

Tamara K Anderson and Deanne Taylor also share what they have learned through their caregiving experiences.

These two websites provide some very good information to help caregivers know how important it is to take care of themselves during this time.

• Mayo Clinic: Caregiver stress: Tips for taking care of yourself
• Cleveland Clinic: Caregiver Burnout

Julie Cangialosi and Lauralee Hill share their journeys of raising a family after neonatal pregnancy loss and stillbirth. They provide encouragement, hope and the promise of sharing joy with your family and future children.

Julie and her husband James founded a nonprofit to help other couples gain understanding and work through the loss. To learn more: Operation Little Angels 101: Hope After Loss

Resource Information:

Pregnancy After Loss Support

Stillbirth and Neonatal Death

Stillbirth: Surviving Emotionally

Julie Cangialosi and Lauralee Hill share their stories of neonatal pregnancy loss and stillbirth. They talk about how they dealt with it and what they wished others understood.

Julie Cangialosi and her husband founded a nonprofit to help other couples. To learn more: Operation Little Angels 101: Hope After Loss

Resource Information:

Pregnancy After Loss Support

Stillbirth and Neonatal Death

Stillbirth: Surviving Emotionally

Human Trafficking, slavery, child marriages, and more.

Connell Branan and Kim Hoey Stevenson share some stories of mothers and women they have met while attending the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. The dates of the Commission on the Status of Women are March 6 to March 17, 2023.

Good news! American Mothers was accepted to present a panel during the event. The panel will take place virtually on Tuesday, March 7th at 11:00am EST. The topic is: Navigating Motherhood in the Digital Age.

Be sure to register at the link below so you will have access to the AMI panel and all other events. You must be registered to access the AMI panel.

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEpfumhqDkrH9KgUz-hrjEHgeMIcCP7CbpB

The theme for the CSW conference is: Innovation and technological change, and education in the digital age for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.

For more information about American Mothers, Inc.(R) visit our website: www.americanmothers.org

One of the programs of American Mothers is the Golden Rule Movement. This year we will share stories about kindness at the conclusion of many Mom to Mom episodes.

Mothers share the best stories, especially when it includes their kids. There's a lot more stories of kindness in this episode, plus some thoughts on the "art" of kindness.

Be sure to tell us about your stories of kindness. Share your experience in print or video on American Mothers Inc. Facebook or Instagram. You can also send them to [email protected].

Here are some links to pages you might find interesting:

• Learn more about Drew's Rainbow Art - https://www.drewsrainbowsart.com/
• Random Acts of Kindness - https://www.randomactsofkindness.org
• Kindness.org- https://kindness.org/?gclid=CjwKCAiA2rOeBhAsEiwA2Pl7QxHZFVQqSOSr9TFB11ArZX84I7eEYaoAn_SP19DoDBl5GMsre2t_sRoC9C4QAvD_BwE
• Just Serve - https://www.justserve.org/

This is a reminder of when new podcasts will be posted. We will post them on the odd Tuesdays of the month - first, third, and fifth. Be sure to join us!

I love hearing stories from other moms. During this episode several mothers will share some of their experiences with kindness and the impact it had on them. You don't want to miss this!

Random Acts of Kindness Week - February 14 - 21, 2023

Random Acts of Kindness Day - Friday, February 17, 2023

We will also share information and case studies about the impact kindness can have on the giver and the receiver. Here are some websites and articles that provide good information, including a site that has potential local service ideas for you and your family.

• Random Acts of Kindness - https://www.randomactsofkindness.org
• Kindness.org -     https://kindness.org/?gclid=CjwKCAiA2rOeBhAsEiwA2Pl7QxHZFVQqSOSr9TFB11ArZX84I7eEYaoAn_SP19DoDBl5GMsre2t_sRoC9C4QAvD_BwE
• Just Serve - https://www.justserve.org/
• "Acts of Kindness may ease Anxiety and Depression" https://www.today.com/health/mind-body/acts-kindness-may-ease-depression-anxiety-symptoms-better-therapy-rcna66690?cid=eml_starttoday_20230123
• 5 Reasons Volunteering is Good For You - https://www.trustbridgeglobal.com/blog/2021/1/25/5-reasons-volunteering-is-good-for-you?gclid=Cj0KCQiAz9ieBhCIARIsACB0oGJzW5-kGLYGg0bshNSpS_kvBo8m6lVyres2iyXpkR7sVM8p7rgURgcaAqqNEALw_wcB
• Benefits of Community Service - https://www.wcsu.edu/community-engagement/benefits-of-volunteering/

Connell Branan and Kim Hoey Stevenson talk about their experiences at the UN, the value American Mothers brings to the United Nations, and the impact mothers make in the organization, especially during the Commission on the Status of Women. The dates of that session are March 6 to March 17, 2023.

If you want to participate in person as part of the American Mothers organization, send an email to [email protected] no later than Wednesday, January 25, 2023.

They also talk about how you can get involved virtually. This is the link to register to attend the parallel virtual events,  

https://whova.com/portal/registration/ngocs1_202303/

Deanne and Tamara share some great insights on choosing and moving towards accomplishing your resolution or goal without getting down on yourself.

Here are three websites that have some information that is helpful.

https://www.wingstosoaronline.com/difference-between-goals-and-resolutions/

https://www.goskills.com/Soft-Skills/Resources/Top-10-new-years-resolutions

This one has some tips on making goals for your business: https://www.smbystratos.com/newsroom/blog/goals-versus-resolutions-whats-the-difference/#:~:text=A%20resolution%20is%20a%20statement,want%20to%20achieve%20it%20by.

Remember to check out the 2023 American Mothers National Convention from April 20th to April 22nd in Omaha, Nebraska. https://www.americanmothers.org/2023-national-convention-schedule/

The final American Mothers: Mom to Mom Podcast of 2022 features highlights from six of our most popular podcasts.

Dr. LaTarsha L. Green, From Homeless to Doctorate - with 6 Children, May 10, 2022

Dr. Renae Reinardy, Learning Resilience and Dealing with Fake Realities, June 14, 2022

Doris Donley, Stopping the Cycle of Abuse - One Woman's Journey, August 9, 2022

Julie Cluff, The Grief Process is Growth: A Journey of Hope, August 30, 2022

Sabrina Wisher-DeWitt, Fighting For Your Child, July 12, 2022

Sharon Parker, Lead Within and Discover Strengths, May 24, 2022