Raising an Original by Julie Lyles Carr

Parenting each child according to their unique God-given temperament.

I passed by this book for a few times because I wasn't sure I was that interested. There can be a lot of hype about temperaments etc. and I didn't think I really was into that too much. Not that I don't want to be aware of my child's temperament, but just didn't view it as that important.

To be honest, I'm not sure why I picked this book then, but I decided to read it and I am glad I did. Julie does talk about temperaments some. There are about two chapters dedicated to Raising an Original Personality Evaluation Summary on your child. I went through this rather quickly and really couldn't decide for sure what I was and Amber seems a bit too young yet, at least for me to decide on this.

While I think that part was valuable, that wasn't really what stuck out to me in the book. What stuck out to me is how our child is unique and my goal as their mom is to take those unique threads and allow them to develop God-given abilities and talents. To let them forge their own way, with boundaries of course, but not to push my agenda on to them. To not try to raise a mini-me. To not feel like my kids' actions and behaviors all reflect back on me and give me my identity. To not feel like a good mom if my child goes on to become a rocket scientist and a failure if she only goes to work at McDonald's, even though she absolutely loves her job at McDonald's. It's giving my child the wings to fly without attaching them to my dreams or expectations or trying to get them to have the experiences that I missed in my childhood.

I am afraid I am not making a lot of sense, so just go read the book. Two things to wrap this up. I need to raise a child who is purposed, not perfect. "We all have areas where we think the Lord may have dropped a stitch He was knitting us." But it's in those seeming "imperfections" that He can often do the greatest work. There is no true level of "normal".  Here's another quote, "Yes, your child's strengths within her temperament and her talents may be the things you find easiest to be proud of. But what you might see as her weaknesses may hold incredible potential. Her weaknesses may hold treasure. Her weaknesses may just hold inklings in her direction.

"Which would make those weaknesses powerful strengths."

And last, but not least, remember that my child is an original that needs to be given back to the Originator. God is in control and I need to trust Him to be in control.

I did enjoy this book. My only question is how Julie managed to stay looking so young. I included a bio picture, which I pretty much never do, but she looks so young. She has 8 children, and has been married for 27 years. And I think she looks the age of one of her daughters. Anyway, complete side note.




I received this book from Book Look Bloggers and am not required to write a positive review.