My kiddos are all out the door for their first full day of school – swirling stomachs, smiles, and all. I’m thrilled for them, and feel fortunate to truly believe that each of our three children will have an expansive year – through the ups and the downs, the neat and the messy, the big and the small.

I was fortunate to be invited by dear friends to the United Center for Oprah’s Surprise Spectacular. To say I was thrilled to give a huge, immediate, resounding YES would be an understatement.

Yes, my oldest daughter texts, posts, and video chats. Yes, she is acutely aware of when it is “time” to freshen up the wardrobe with a few new pieces from the latest fashion trends. Yes, she often rolls her eyes at my “weird” behaviors. And yes, friends are at the top of her sharing list these days.

With the big win of The King’s Speech at the Academy Awards Sunday night comes an invitation to discuss a most basic premise of the Soul to Soul Perspective–wisdom can be found everywhere–everyday life is our best and most profound teacher. The books, movies, articles, songs, confrontations, illnesses, and even laundry create the tapestry of a sacred life.

In the modern age of texts, tweets, and status updates, it is of utmost importance that parents maintain open lines of face-to-face, soul-to-soul communication with their children. This does not mean resisting a highly technological world that is not going away, but rather continually exploring new ways to connect with one another both on and beyond the keyboard.