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What did your mom teach you about friendship? $100 Visa Gift Card #Giveaway #MothersDay

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mother daughter friendship

Mother’s Day is coming. 5 Minutes for Books managing editor Jennifer Donovan is here to share a new book from Hachette, as well as a $100 gift card giveaway to treat the special woman in your life!

If I could write a book, I’d write a book about friendship. I believe friendship doesn’t just happen; it’s an acquired skill. And like many things in life, we learn by watching our mothers and grandmothers.

Both my mom and my grandmother maintained healthy friendships. I don’t remember us ever having a discussion along the lines of “friendships are important, and this is what you do to build and maintain them,” but that said, I vividly remember tooling around with my grandmother and her friends when my sister and I would spend the summer traveling with their trailer club. She taught me that living life is more fun with friends by your side.

I remember the way my mom encouraged my own friendships by including my friends at birthday dinners or even on summer trips. After she and my step-dad had been empty nesters for several years, they joined a Harley club and quickly had a close new group of friends. I learned that it’s never to late to expand your circle of friends. I guess I saw that from my grandmother as well, as the trailer club was one they joined in retirement.

My own friendships have changed over the years, from school friends, to living life with friends at college, to work colleagues, young married couples, neighborhood mom mentors, survive-the-preschool-years companions, which then morphed into each stage of my children’s lives. I still lean on my friends for help navigating my children, but my friendships are changing. They aren’t all built around my children’s ages and stages. Or even if they do have children the same age, that topic doesn’t always come up.

The people who I call friend now are those with whom I can laugh or cry, play, work, those who help me live and enjoy life more fully.

Life is definitely better with friends, and I’m so glad that Mom and Mimi taught me that by their example.

Kelley Paul has written a new book, True and Constant Friends: Love and Inspiration from Our Grandmothers, Mothers, and Friends, perfect to share with your mom or a close friend.

true and constant friends

When Kelley Paul arrived on the Rhodes College campus in 1981, she immediately bonded with six women. Three decades of intimate friendship later, Kelley celebrates these relationships and the women who inspired them all. She tells their stories and those of their grandmothers, mothers and sisters, providing a microcosm of women raising families and building lives in 20th- and 21st-Century America. The extraordinary lives of Kelley’s and her friends’ role models — from the Southern matriarch to the poor Irish immigrant — are honored in this lovely book which offers oral history along with classic poetry, art, and photography. Throughout, Kelley explores the universal themes of hardship, determination, commitment, family, independence, optimism, friendship and love — and illuminates the power of the female bond that enriches all our lives.

Enter to win the book and $100 Visa Gift Card

Three of you will win autographed copies of True and Constant Friends, as well as a $100 Visa Gift Card to treat the special woman in your life!

100 visa gift card

Find out more about the book and like it on Facebook.

Reader Interactions


269 Comments

  3. My mom’s best friend is my dad! They have been together since they were 13!

  10. My mom’s best friend her whole life was her first cousin, who I’m named after.

  11. My mom’s best friend is her older sister – they do a lot of things together and have supported each other through the years.

  12. My Mom was best friends with a woman she worked with…she still is today.

  14. My grandma’s best friend was her cousin. Her cousin was a year older than gram and gram would cry when her cousin went to school so they sent her with her! Gram was the youngest in her class. My grandma died 3 years ago but her cousin is still living, a ripe old 97!

  15. I was not raised by mine so I have no idea who her friends were. thank you

  17. My mom’s best friend from her childhood was a woman named Barbara, who lived across the street from her when she was growing up. They lost touch for many years and then when my mom was about 70, they reconnected and immediately became close again. As my mom slipped deeper and deeper into Alzheimer’s dementia, she started to confuse me with Barbara. One Easter, my mom and I spent the day at my house gardening and she called me Barbara the entire day. It was disturbing at first to think that she’d forgotten I was her daughter but then I started to realize that she thought of me as her oldest friend. That wasn’t a bad trade-off.

  20. Who was your mom or grandmother’s best friend? I really have not idea who their best friend was.

  21. My grandmother had a best friend that she grew up with and when they moved across the country from each other, they wrote to each other every week for 60 years.

  24. My mom’s best friend was a lady from her church, the two were inseparable as I was growing up and a friend of the family for many years.

  25. Mom had 2 best friends, one from her childhood, with whom she stayed in touch long distance, and the next door neighbor, Lorraine.

  27. My grandmother’s best friend was a fellow German immigrant. They got to know each other after they arrived in the U.S.

  28. My momma and I are best friends! I know she has others, but I talk to her more than anyone (several times daily and by phone – rare these days to be on the phone with people instead of texting) and we live two hours away from each other!

  29. My mom’s best friend is her sister, Lois. My Grandmom always talks about Annie. She lived on a farm isolated from others but on Sundays her mother would cook for the locals. She got to play all day with Annie. I love hearing the little adventures they went on.

  31. my mom’s best friend is her early hospital work buddy…she helped bring all her children into the world as her anethesist!😊 and grandma’s is her daughter-in-law and niece, all three are ‘besties’, they do everything together and are too cute!👵👭

  32. My moms best friendis kimand my grandmothers was always my grandpa

  33. My mom and my grandma were best friends! They were like two peas in a pod. 🙂

  35. My mom’s best friend was my dad. She always told me to have a long happy marriage to make sure your spouse is your best friend.

  39. I hardly knew my grandmothers, so I can’t say about them, and I don’t think my mother had a best friend.

  41. My mother’s best friend was the lady my sister and I called ‘Aunt Peggy’.
    Thanks for the contest.

  45. My moms best friend? I don’t think she has one anymore after her co-worker passed, it used to be Judy.

  47. My Mom’s best friend growing up was Faith, her best friends now are myself and my sister.

  48. Doris, a lady that used to watch my sister and I for years was my mothers best friend. We all did everything together!

  49. My moms best friend has been her best friend for over 30 years. She is like my other mother and they make a perfect pair of friends!

  50. My mom’s best friends were three amazing women who she’s still close with to this very day.

  51. My Mom’s best friend was actually a set of twins, named May and Fay that she knew and loved from high school!

  52. My mom’s best friend was her sister Anne. They were only 10 months apart.

  56. My mom’s best friend was Georgia, a lady she worked with. Georgia was like an aunt to me. She went everytwhere with us – movies, shopping, vacation. We all had a lot of fun.

  57. My dad was my mom’s best friend until his death 5 years ago. She now has a special friend that she considers a very good friend.

  59. Mom’s best friend was her sister Flora. When her sister died her best friend was a lady from church

  61. My Mom’s best friend was her sister. They could finish each others sentences. They are very much missed.

  63. My grandmother’s best friend was a woman named Vi whom she met at her first job. They stayed friends until the day my grandmother passed….and even after 🙂

  66. I think I was my mother’s best friend….we were the only two women in a family of 8. I know that she was MY best friend and I still miss her terribly.

  69. My grandmothers best friend was my mom , and my mom’s best friend is me 🙂

  74. My Mom’s best friend is another lady in their small town. Not sure how they met but they have been best friends since I can remember and have always been there for each other through the fun times and the difficult.

  77. My grandmother’s best friend was Rebecca, she called her Becca.

  79. My mom’s best friend since childhood was a lovely lady named Diana. They had so many amazing and hilarious adventures!

  82. My mom’s best friend was a lady named Ingrid…She has just come from Germany, and had married my Dad’s best friend. They stayed friends for many years, but lost touch after my parents divorce

  85. My mom’s best friend was Gay Lynn (I don’t recall her last name) and they were friends for many years. I believe she has passed away now, but they were friends for at least 40 years.

  87. There were three friends in my Moms life that we kids called Auntie, tho they weren’t really our aunts. They were BFFs for over 60 years.
    I like to believe that I was also one of her BFFs because we were very close after I grew up…lol

  88. She is a beautiful lady who has a heart of gold. Always soft spoken and takes care of her mother. It’s very sweet.

  89. My moms best friend was Pammy. I even had a doll named after her growing up.

  92. My grandma’s best friend is a childhood friend that still lives in Germany.

  93. My mother’s best friend was a rather wild n’ crazy woman name Lee, her opposite in so many ways.

  94. Everyone in my mom’s life thought they were her best friend – including me. At her funeral everyone kept saying they had talked to her the day she died and how much she meant to them. I don’t know how she made everyone feel so valuable but it is something I strive to do in my life.

  96. My mom’s best friend is someone she met in grade school, then married her uncle, they stayed close to this day.

  98. I don’t have a clue who my mom or grandma’s best friends were. My mom died when I was young and my grandma before I was born.

  100. My mom’s best friend is the neighbor lady. They’re still neighbors in their separate apartments.

  103. My mom had a friend name Lulu she met when they were waitresses years ago and they are still friends today

  106. My mother’s best friend was my Aunt Margaret (her sister-in-law). They were friends for many years until my mother passed away.

  107. My mom’s best friend was name Shawn and she passed away sadly when I was young. She was a wonderful person though.

  111. My mother’s best friend is her sister. They are always doing things together.

  113. MY Mom’s best friend would have to be one of her sisters. I don’t know which

  115. my mom’s best friend growing up was a woman named Carol who was born on Christmas. She always talked about her “Christmas Carol.” But now it’s her mother.

  116. My mom’s had the same best friend for the last 40 years. I call her my Aunt, they now live about a block away from each other. She actually married my Dad’s best friend ten years ago (after they’d both been through their share of divorce).

  118. Honestly, my mom raised so many children that I think WE were her best friends.

  121. My mom’s best friends were her sisters. They have always been there for each other through good and bad times.

  124. As far as I know, my mother never had a best friend; at least she never spoke of one. Thanks for the giveaway!

  125. My mom had a lot of friends when she was younger. I dont think she has any best friends now.

  127. My mom’s best friend was/is actually my childhood best friend’s mom – they were inseparable then and remain so even now.

  128. My mom’s best friend was her mom and when her mom passed her sister became her new bestie.

  134. Her best friend is Denish a lady she’s known for 40 years and they get together every Saturday for coffee and to gossip

  135. My grandma’s best friend was Phyllis who passed away a few years before my grandma.

  137. My mom’s best friend was her sister Dorothy. They were very close all their lives. When my mom died of cancer, my Aunt Dorothy took it very hard. Shortly after, she developed Alzheimer’s and the only thing she remembered was all the time she spent with my mom. She died this year so I like to think they’re together again somewhere.

  138. My Mom’s best friend was Rosemarie. They started school together when they were 5 and were best friends thru the years, across several continents and several marriages, until my Mom died last year at 90. Now, I call Rosemarie every day. We’ve helped each other thru an awful lot and I am very honored to call her a friend and ‘pseudo-Mom’.

  139. My family is pretty strange in that they don’t really tend to form a lot of friendships… my mother probably had a best friend when she was younger, but I have no idea who it would have been.

  142. My mom’s best friend was a lady she worked with. After they both retired they’ve remained friends.

  143. My moms best friend was Janet. Some of my best memories are of them two together. They were always laughing! I’m smiling thinking about it. Unfortunately they both passed young. I miss them and their laughter. Love you guys!

  146. My mom’s best friend is a woman named Pam. They are both bus drivers for the special needs children in their school district.

    @AmandaGeaney

  148. My mom’s best friend is named Donna. But unfortunately she just moved to a different state about a year ago. It’s sad seeing my mom upset and missing her friend!

  149. My Nana’s best friend was a lady her age, Wilma, who lived next door.
    & my mom’s best friend is me. She works 50+ hours a week, and doesn’t really have time for a best friend. She’ll tell you that too, sadly. But I still live at home, so I try to keep her sane!
    Thank you for this opportunity!

  150. my mom’s best friend was her brother Frank, they were always there to support each other in raising their families

  152. My mom’s best friend is my dad. They have been married best friends for 57 years!

  153. My mother’s best friend was Olga. They were best friends from high school until Olga’s death @ age 64. Olga was like a 2nd mother to me and I often liked her much better than my own mother.

  157. years ago, my mother was a dancer and her best friend was another dancer, Candy

  158. Her best friend was nature and the animals and birds! Her husband passed away when he was 60 from a sudden heart attack. She lived on her own in a lake cabin for a long time. She lived to age 96! Loved helping animals and birds and always took in anything wounded to try to nurse back to health!

  159. My Mom’s best friend was her sister. They talked on the phone a lot and dearly loved each other.

  168. My mom’s best friend when she was growing up was the daughter of a pastor. They would sing in the choir together.

  169. My Granny’s best friend was her husband. My Papa, They did everything together and lived happily.

  170. My mother’s best friend was a sweet chinese woman named Shalu. She would make homemade chinese food from scratch. It was AMAZINGLY delicious!!

  173. I am my mother’s best friend. Now that she is elderly I am her caregiver, but when she was young we did everything together. My mother has always lived with my husband and four kids. She was a second mother to our children. I don’t have a sister and either does my mother so we became best friends.

  174. I really have no idea who my mom or grandmas best friends were. I don’t think they ever said. I need to ask around.

  175. My mother’s best friend is someone she has known since grade school and they are now in their 80’s.

  176. my mothers best friend is my aunt renee ( not really my aunt but close enough ) and my grandmothers best friend was my grandfather by far

  178. My Moms best friend is named Kathy they have been friends since I was a kindergartner!

  181. My mom’s best friend is my aunt, who lived with us. It was amazing seeing their relationship growing up.

  182. My mom’s bff is her sister, one year apart and still am. Happy Mother’s Day y’all.

  183. My moms best friend is named Barbara…she met my mom in high school and was like my second mom…she was there for her through thick and thin and as my mom was dying, was there for her every step of the way. My mom passed away 29 years ago and she is still devastated by her death as we all still are

  188. My grandmother’s best friend was a wonderful woman named Ruby. They grew up together and remained best friends until my grandmother passed almost 30 years ago. Ruby passed 3 years ago. They were both amazing women and I loved being around them when they were together. They had so much fun!

  190. My Mom had a lot of best friends but her best was probably a woman she met at work.

  192. My Grandmother best friend was her daughters,my aunts. And my Moms best friend is me , her daughter and caregiver!

  195. My mom’s best friend was our neighbor of 20 years & I’m still best friends with her daughter!!!

  196. My Moms best friend was Sue, sadly she has passed but I remember spending a lot of time at her house doing fun crafts as a kid.

  201. My mom had a best friend, Barbara, that she met when they were both young working girls in the 1940’s. They were friends until Barbara’s death in the early 80’s.

  202. My mother’s best friend is a lawyer who worked with her at the department of transportation. I love this woman because she actually gets my mother to relax! 😀

  205. My mother’s best friend was a childhood neighbor of hers. She still keeps in touch via Facebook.

  206. My grandma was always my best friend.
    No matter what she was doing she always had time for me.
    thank you

  215. Oh my goodness! Impressive article dude! Thank you, However I am going
    through problems with your RSS. I don’t understand why I can’t subscribe to it.
    Is there anybody else getting the same RSS problems? Anyone who knows
    the answer can you kindly respond? Thanks!!

    • Well, actually, they were friends WAY before Lea met my uncle. They had been friends in high school, and then as they worked for the same company for 20 years.

  218. My mom was best friends with our neighbor when we were little and when we moved, she was best friends with the mom in a family we were all friends with.

  220. My mom’s best friend is someone she met in high school, who she made my godmother.

  222. my mom’s best friend was a woman named Sandra, they used to have lots of good times together even though for many years Sandra was ill.

  223. My moms best friend was her sister. They only had each other and had to rely on one other their entire lives.

  225. My mothers best friend was her boss! They’ve been friends for over 25 years now, they taught me the importance of supporting one another and how special it is to have a shoulder to cry on but to also have someone to push you for betterment.

  226. the only person i can remember my mom calling her best friend, had died many years before. my mom was confined to the house mostly and family was all that was around.

  234. I remember call my mom’ best friend auntie Cynthia. They met in college, freshman year

  237. My mom and my grandmother were best friends before my grandmother died. I try to be there for my mom as much as I can now that she isn’t around.

  239. Who was your mom or grandmother’s best friend? My mom’s had so many friends while I was growing up – I particularly remember Phyllis…they moved about 15 years ago and now her best friend is Teri.

  251. My mother had a best friend named Karen for many years. They’d go out to eat often. They haven’t seen each other in a while though. Thanks.
    partymix25(at)Hotmail(dot)com

  252. My mom’s best friend is someone she met in junior high…and they’ve been friends all these years!

  258. I still really want to see fast and furious !:)

    been dying to see that one! just need a babysitter