Mothering From Scratch

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Product Details

Mothering From Scratch: Finding the Best Parenting Style for You and Your Family by Melinda Means and Kathy Helgemo

This was an interesting book to read at this stage in my life.  Having not yet been given the chance to "practice" mothering on my own children, I'm hopeful some of the ideas lodged into my brain somewhere and will help making mothering easier when my own children are born.

Because of the fact that I haven't "practiced" mothering yet, I did find the book a little hard to relate to and yet I thought the authors had some really, really good points.  One of the things that they stressed over and over again was the need for a relationship with God and being in tune with the Holy Spirit.  Making time for quiet time with God is a nonnegotiable to be able to be the mother God has called you to be.  Along with that is being okay with mothering in your own style and not being a people-pleaser to the detriment of your kids.  One thing that stuck out to me was the admonition to be careful what you blog about in relation to your kids.  If they were to read it, would they be embarrassed or humiliated?

Just a few quotes that I thought were good: "We can spend so much time talking about our children online that we never actually talk to our children." "Why not take mothering out of the category of competition?" I think this is something I will really need to remember.  Instead of competing in our mothering methods, ask for help.  When you see a mom who seems to have it all together in one area, ask them how they do it?  Don't go to shame because you can't do it as good as they can, be humble and ask for advice.  They may just have a good tip that will revolutionize your own life and you also may have just discovered an ally in your mothering that you can go back to and bounce other ideas off of.

I did really like this book.  My biggest need for me will be to remember to take it to God first and to be okay with my own style and not the style my family and friends have or that I think they would want me to have.  Raising children is a serious responsibility, but it isn't a competition.

This book was given to me by Bethany House for the purpose of reading and writing a review about it.  All opinions expressed are my own.

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